Article1. Gyeonggi Province Aids Small Enterprises in Ansan City (0526-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced that it will make existing special financial aid available to small enterprises in the Ansan City area that were hard hit by restrained consumer activities following the recent Sewol (세월) ferry disaster.
[Report]
Nearly 80% of Small Enterprises in An san Affected by Reduced Consumption
Approximately 80 percent of the small businesses in the cityhave been seriously affected by this tragic incident that claimed the lives of many Ansan City students.
[CG]
Sales havedecreased by 10 to 30 percent at large supermarkets and department stores,by nearly 50 percentat accommodation, travel and clothing businesses,and by more than 50 percent amongfood service providers.
Gyeonggi Province to Provide Financial Aid of KRW 20 Billion to Small Enterprises
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government will set aside special funds of KRW 20 billion for small businesses in the Ansan area that have been affected by consumerrestraint.
Such businesses also include those operated by the families of the victims of the accident.
Loan of Up to KRW 50 Million Available to Each Enterprise at Low Interest
Each recipient will be provided with a special loan of up to KRW 50 million at an interest ratereduced from the normal rate by1.7 percent.
The prerequisite for the granting of special financial aid, participation in a specified education course, will be waived for three months after the loan grant for applicants from Ansan City and for one year for the familiesof the victims.
[Interview] Jang Jong-jae / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Small Business Support Team
“We estimate that approximately 800 enterprises will be benefit from this special financial aid.”
Detail information about the special financial aid is available from the Ansan offices of the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation and the Small Enterprise and Market Service.Applications will be received until September 30th.

Article2. Gyeonggi Province to Disclose Tax Delinquent List (0527-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
A public disclosure warning was issued to those tax delinquents in Gyeonggi Province who have failed to pay taxes of more than KRW 30 million. Among these individuals, the worst offenders will also be subject to an overseas travel ban.
[Report]
Gyeonggi Warns 2,399 Tax Dodgers of Public Disclosure
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government issued the warning to 2,399 tax delinquents, encouraging them to make their tax payments.
From this year, the public disclosure threshold for tax delinquency has been considerably reduced from KRW 300 million for two years to KRW 30 million for one year.
KRW 268 Billion in Arrears by Tax Delinquents (Average KRW 110 Million Per Person)
The total taxes in arrears by the listed tax delinquents amount to KRW 268 billion, averaging KRW 110 million per person.
The largest amount of taxes defaulted by a corporate entity is KRW 7.1 billion, and by an individual, KRW 2.7 billion.
Payment of More than 30% to Earn Exclusion from Public Disclosure
Those who pay at least 30 percent of their outstanding taxes by November 17th will be excluded from the public disclosure list.
Over KRW 50 Million Tax Delinquents to Be Banned from Overseas Travel
Those who are in arrears for more than KRW 50 million will be subject to an overseas travel ban filed with the Ministry of Justice.
[Interview] Ryu Yeong-yong / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Tax Arrears Recovery Team
“This is part of our tax delinquency management, strengthened with multiple administrative measures. By the end of June, we will finalize the list of individuals to be prohibited from leaving the country.”
To large and habitual tax delinquents, the provincial government will apply heavy administrative penalization and use various collection means including the freezing of assets as well as the seizure of salaries.

Article3. Russian Doctors Take In-service Training at Gyeonggi Hospitals (0528-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Since 2011, and for the first time among autonomous bodies in Korea, Gyeonggi Province has been operating the Global Healthcare Academy for foreign medical professionals. This year, Russian medical practitioners arrived at hospitals in Gyeonggi Province for one-month of in-service medical training.
[Report]
St. Vincent Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea
During their stay, which runs until June 21st, the Russian doctors will have a first-hand view of the clinical practices and workings of Korean medical organizations and the public health tem, as well as of the technologies used.
At this hospital, the Russian doctors are intently absorbing every detail of an endoscopic abdominal surgery process.
In addition to on-site observations, they also experience the use of various high-tech medical devicesconnected with a database and interfaces for advanced information technologies.
[Interview] Alexander Marazoff M.D. / Global Healthcare Academy Attendant
“The medical facilities in Korea are well equipped for patient care. They also provide good working environments for doctors, supported by specialized equipment and medical staff.”
Gyeonggi Province’s Global Healthcare Academy for Foreign Medical Professionals
This year’s Global Healthcare Academy opened on May 26th for ten medical professionals from Russia.
These Russian medical professionals will spend four weeks participating in field studies of individual interest at eight hospitals in the province.
Number of Foreign Patient Visits Doubled from 2009
Foreign medical professional training is part of Gyeonggi Province’s medical tourism and export promotion policies.
Since 2009, the number of foreign patients who visited Gyeonggi Province has doubled, amounting to more than 25,000 last year.
[Interview] Ryu Yeong-cheol / Director, Gyeonggi Province Public Health Policy Division
“More than 250 medical professionals from China, Russia, Malawi, Kazakhstan and Vietnam have visited(Gyeonggi Province) since 2011. They helped us promote the medical services of the province overseas as well as international medical exchanges.”
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government will continue to promote provincial medical services overseas through the sharing of medical know-how, the establishment of cooperative networks, and medical exports.

Article4. Public Environment Management Program Proven Effective (0526-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Public Environment Management Program was introduced in Gyeonggi Province in 2005 for the public management of private sewage treatment facilities in cooperation with specialized environment enterprises. The resulting water quality from such facilities has since improved greatly.
[Report]
Resort House / Daeshin-myeon, Yeoju City
This is a provincial support program that helps private sewage treatment facilities of less than 50-ton capacity with their operations, improvement and maintenance.
The subject facilities include those of restaurants, common homes, amenities, and lodgings like this resort house in seven cities and counties around the Paldang (팔당) watershed.
[Interview] Kim Ki-il / Resort House Owner
“Since we had visits by sewage treatment specialists, the water quality has improved considerably. They reassured me and relieved a burden.”
Paldang Water Quality Improvement Headquarters
The Public Environment Management Program has been operated by the Paldang (팔당) Water Quality Improvement Headquarters of Gyeonggi Province since 2005.
Water Quality around Paldang Watershed Improved
The program aims to help private facility operators who have limited knowledge about sewage treatment by providing inspection, measurement and consultation services.
[CG]
The rate of water quality violations decreased from 52 percent to a mere 2.9 percent last year. The water quality level has also improved greatly compared to the period before the introduction of the program.
[Interview] Choi Jae-hyeon / Senior Official, Gyeonggi Province Water Quality Management Division
“We will expand the operation of the Public Environment Management Program so as to improve the quality of the Paldang water source and to prevent small enterprises from being subject to administrative actions.”
The recent assessment proves that the program has been effective for water quality management in the Paldang (팔당) watershed, which is an important source of water for a large population.

Article5. Consumer Safety Education for Multicultural Families (0527-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Province Consumer Information Center has begun consumer safety education for multicultural families. Running from May until October, this program aims to help multicultural family members avoid being victimized by a range of fraudulent trade tactics.
[Report]
As of the end of last year, there were 2.16 million foreign residents in Korea.
Gyeonggi Province Home to Largest Number of Multicultural Families
With more than 440,000 foreign residents, Gyeonggi Province is home to the largest number of multicultural families in Korea.
However, most of them are still struggling in their daily lives as the yadapt to an unfamiliar language and lifestyle. They often suffer losses due to a lack of skills in purchasing and the handling of related problems.
[Interview] Cho Huiring / Sanpo-dong, Gunpo City
“It is difficult to tell the genuine items from the fakes. Also, the items I purchase are often different from those that appear in advertisements.”
Gyeonggi Province Consumer Safety Education for Multicultural Families
The consumer safety education program for multicultural families was designed to prepare them for complicated, even deceitful trade practices.
The education program includes such topics as learning currency denominations, making wise purchases, understanding payment methods, and handling consumer disputes, as well as the use of the Consumer Consultation Centers.
[Interview] Son Cheol-ok / Senior Official Gyeonggi Province Consumer Economy Team
“Ignorance of our consumption culture and related laws is the major cause of damage. The purpose of this education is to prevent such damage. It also includes how to use the consumer consultation centers.”
Consumer Consultation Center☎ 1372 / Gyeonggi Province Consumer Information Center☎ 031-8008-5322
If you are a member of a multicultural family and suffer damage due to purchases, please call the Consumer Consultation Center at 1372 or the Consumer Information Center at 031-8008-5322.
They will help you resolve the problem quickly.

Article6. Signboard Improvement Project Transforms Gyeonggi Street Images (0528-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The buildings on this street are completely covered with jumbled signboards. They hardly serve their intended purpose, and only create an ugly image for the street. The Signboard Improvement Project of Gyeonggi Province has been transforming the image of such streets. Our reporter took to those streets.
[Report]
Gong bang Street, Suwon City
This once-dilapidated old street in Suwon (수원) City has been home to traditional craft shops and related businesses for many years.
The provincial Sign board Improvement Project and the property owners have recreated the street with renewed façades and signboards under a unified concept.
It is now one of major tourist areas of the city.
[Interview] Park Seon-woo / Business Owner on Gong bang Street
“After the refurbishment of the street, we have received more visitors. There are now more opportunities for experiences on weekends, and the street has certainly become livelier.”
Joon gang-ro, Yeoju City
Shops in this market place in Yeoju (여주) City also redecorated their store fronts with new signboards that emphasize local characteristics.
All of the more than two hundred shop owners willingly agreed to create a new appearance for the street by replacing English signboards with stylish Korean ones.
Gyeonggi Province Signboard Improvement Project Began in 2004
The signboard improvement project of Gyeonggi Province began in 2004 to improve the appearance of city streets.
Streets in More than 70 Areas Reborn with New Appearances
This project has so far transformed the appearance of streets in more than seventy areas in the province.
[Interview] Kang Hyo-seok / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Landscape Team
“Signboards are a critical element of the appearance of cities. They are the faces of cities and buildings. We have been endeavoring to improve their appearance by promoting creative and beautiful signboards.”
Gyeonggi Province to Hold Signboard Contest
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government will continue to transform the appearance of urban environments through the promotion of regional signboard improvement as well as signboard contests

Article7. Eco Farm Land Development Receives Green Light (140529-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The agricultural and livestock tourism complex development plan of the Korean Ministry of Strategy and Finance received the green light as the ministry finalized its budget plan. Entitled Eco Farm Land, this futuristic tourism complex will be developed in Hwaseong (화성) City of Gyeonggi Province.
[Report]
Hwaong District, Hwaseong City
Much of theHwaong (화옹) district of Hwaseong (화성) City has been left idle for the past seven years while waiting for the establishment of a legal foundation and budget plan for the Eco Farm Land Project. However, the related public organizations have now begun to work together on detailed plans.
Development Agreement Signed / Gyeonggi Provincial Office Complex (May 28th)
On May 28th, five related public organizations including Gyeonggi Province and the Korea Rural Community Corporation finally signed a development agreement.
[Soundbite] Lee Bong-hoon / Vice President, Korea Rural Community Corporation
“It has been a long wait. We will work closely with Gyeonggi Province and do our utmost to speed up the process of establishing ground facilities to make up for lost time.”
Korean Government Finalized Budget of KRW 91.4 Billion in March
The development of the complex became reality with the securing of KRW 91.4 billion for development costs by the ministry and the signing the agreement among related organizations.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government immediately began groundwork planning with the Korea Rural Community Corporation.
[Soundbite] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo
“I hope that this complex will become one of the leading service industries of the future by combining nature and agriculture with multiple sectors including tourism, public experience and accommodation.”
Eco Farm Land to House Various Facilities on768ha Area
The Eco Farm Land complex will be built on a reclaimed land, marking a first in Korea.
The complex will house a variety of livestock, agricultural and tourism facilities on an area of 768 hectares, including an equestrian park, the World Farm Village, a livestock R&D center and a pet theme park.
Although greatly delayed, its completion is expected by the end of 2018 if work begins this year.