Article1. Gyeonggi Province Supports Family-Friendly Enterprises(0407-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government plans to provide free family-friendly management consultation services to enterprises and public organizations. The objectives of this support policy are to promote the creation of work environments that encourage childbirth while increasing the productivity of the organizations.
[Report]
1) GN Food Inc. / Goyang City
This food franchising enterprise in Goyang (고양) City was awarded Gyeonggi Great Workplace certificationthis year. It was the second time since 2010 that the enterprise received this certification.
Such recognition is attributed to the company’s family-friendly welfare programs that include the payment of a special bonus to women employees when they give birth to a child beyond their first.
2) Lee Seo-yoon / Woman Employee of GN Food
“Getting pregnant or undergoing childbirth does not weight heavily on women employees here. The company even provides breast pumps if we need them. The family-friendly policies of the company did have a positive influence on my decision to havea second child.”
3) Welfare and Family-Friendly Programs Increase Productivity
Employees of this company, who mostly work in sedentary conditions, must take at least one hour offa week to work out in the company’s fitness room.
The company also operates a welfare program that enables employees to select from a number of benefits including family tours and family health checkups within a limit of KRW 700,000 a year.
4) Lee Seung-yeol / Administration and Personnel Manager, GN Food Inc.
“The family-orientated welfare tem increased employee satisfaction regarding family life as well as the company’s productivity and work efficiency.”
A German study reported that family-friendly management improved enterprise productivity through the enhancement of employee loyalty.
5) Gyeonggi Province to Provide Free Family-Friendly Management Consultation
The free consultation service will be provided primarily to medium-sized enterprises and public organizations that intend to introduce family-friendly management but are in need of guidance.
6) Oh Hyeon-sook / Director, Gyeonggi Province Women and Family Division
“We plan to hold collectivec on sultation events in which family-friendly management success stories are shared among participating organizations with satisfactory results.”
Applications for participation are being received via the homepages of Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Small and Medium Business Center until the end of this month.
 
Article2. 15,000 Households in Welfare Blind Spots Revealed(0408-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Muhandolbomi (무한돌보미) Welfare Services conducted a special investigation in March, and identified more than 15,000 households in critical situations that fell in welfare blind spots.
[Report]
Lee has been living alone in a room on the roof of a building for the past twenty years. Suffering from physical difficulties due to a serious injury he suffered thirty years ago, he lived on a meager income from the collection of waste paper,devoid of welfare benefits
1) Lee / Welfare Recipient
“I had no idea that there were welfare programs that I could benefit from. This place was not fit for human habitation before …”
Lee’s life has improvedsignificantlynow that he is a recipient of the local basic livelihood benefit and the national old-age pension.
2) More than 15,000 Households in Critical SituationsRevealed in Gyeonggi Province
Lee’s situation was that of more than 15,000 households in critical situations that were identified as existing in welfare blind spots during a month-long special investigation.
3) Muhandolbomi:Public Aides of Muhandolbom Welfare System
Muhandolbomi (무한돌보미),aides of the Muhandolbom (무한돌봄) welfare tem that aids familieswho fall outside of regular welfare coverage, consist of local resident leaders.
4) JiYeong-bae / Muhandombomi
“Resident leaders are in the best position to identify families in welfare blind spots since they frequently interact with the residents in their locality.”
The identification of such a large number of families in welfare blind spots is attributed to the recent increase inMuhandolbomi (무한돌보미), whose numbersthe Gyeonggi Provincial Government plans to further increaseto 25,000 by the end of April.
5) Kim Gwan-soo / Director, Gyeonggi Province Welfare Policy Division
“We plan to operate year-round identification tem in the future, in order to help as many families in difficult situations as possible.”
The conventional application-based welfare policies of Gyeonggi Province are now changing to more active forms by seeking to reach more people in difficult situations, especially those who are left out of the tem simply because of their lack of knowledge.
 
Article3. Gyeonggi Province to Rescue the Furniture Industry(140410-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
WhileIkea, amajor international furniture manufacturer, plans to launch operations in Korea this year, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced a domestic furniture industry promotion plan to increase the industry’s competitiveness.
[Report]
1) Pocheon Furniture Industrial Complex
Gyeonggi Province is home to nearly half of Korea’s furniture manufacturing enterprises, and accounts for nearly 70 percent of national furniture production.
Most manufacturers, however, are small businesses with less than ten employees; theyarehard pressed by cheaper products from China.
2) YooEun-cho / President of the Pocheon Furniture Manufacturers Association
“For the past 15 years, (furniture) manufacturers have been facing difficulties due to thehigh costs of imported materials. They lack the ability to improve competitiveness.”
Unfavorable tariffsincrease production costs and encourage the influx of imported furniture.
3) GTV Reporter Choi Chang-soon
“Contrary to finished furniture products, which areduty-free, most major materials like this wooden board are subject to an 8 percent customs duty.”
The provincial plan includes the adjustment of such contradictorytariffs to promote domestic production.
4) Revision of Material Tariffs
Reduced tariffs on materials are expected to reduce production costs andimprove the price competitiveness of local products.
5) Furniture Quality Certification Costs to Decrease by 60%
Quality certificationcosts, which are one of the cost factors for small manufacturers, will also be reduced to 60 percent of current levels.
6) Furniture Industrial Complex to Be Established by 2018
For a long-term solution, a furniture industry complex will be established by 2018 so as to provideresident enterprises with comprehensive support in training, marketing, design and distribution.
7) Kim Gi-se / Director, Gyeonggi Province Specialized Industries Division
“In addition to institutional reformation, we plan to establish tangible support facilities that will also include research and development facilities.”
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government also plans the phased establishment ofregional furniture distribution centers and joint exhibition and sales facilities, andwill also introducetechnician and certification tems.
These multifaceted provincial support policies are expected totransform the challenge posed by the entry of a global foreign enterprise into an opportunity for the advancement of the domestic furniture industry.
 
Article4. Social Economy Enterprises General Support Center Opens(0407-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
On April 3rd, a general support center was opened at the Gyeonggi Small and Medium Business Center. This center will provide customized business support to social economy enterprises, at hird sector group which, in Korea, collectively refers to social enterprises, village enterprises and cooperatives.
[Report]
This cotton candy manufacturing company in Anyang (안양) City, a certified social enterprise established one year ago, is still struggling to survive.
1) Lee Jong-gyu / CEO of Hyundai F&B (Social Enterprise)
“Even quality product manufacturers cannot survive easily without marketing support and access to large distribution tems.”
2) GTV Reporter Lee Tae-hui
“Social enterprises are entitled to governmental support for three years. However, most of them fall into difficulties after the support period ends.”
3) Social Economy Enterprises Lack Self-Supporting Capabilities
Marketing is the greatest challenge commonly faced by social economy enterprises, which have limited resources and experience in sales and marketing.
Until recently, each of the three types of social economy enterprises had been under the jurisdiction of different ministries of the Korean government, which was responsible for their support.
4) Social Economy Enterprise General Support Center
For the first time in Korea, a general support center was established in Gyeonggi Provincefor all types of social economy enterprises.
This center will provide suchenterprises with customized supportfor the different phases of their growth.
The objective of the center is to nurture self-supporting capabilities among social economy enterprises more effectively and with reduced administration costs.
5) Business Consultants and Product Showroom Facilities
The center also features full-time business consultants and product showroom facilities for sales promotion.
6Yeon Jae-hong / Director, Gyeonggi Province Economic Policy Division
“We help to create successful business models through the provision of support packages fortheir initial stages ranging from business inauguration to marketing and distribution…”
For the more than one thousand social economy enterprises that exist in Gyeonggi Province, this new general support center will become a valuable resourceof business expertise for their growth.
 
Article5. Living Environment Welfare Project Transforms Gyeonggi Province(0408-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Living Environment Welfare Project of Gyeonggi Province is transforming decaying old villages into completely new and pleasant sites through refurbishment and renewal.
[Report]
Houses in this farming village in Gyeonggi Provinceboast new, colorful roofs. Walls were repaired and repainted. Streets were decorated with hedges and trees.
1) Living Environment Welfare Project
These are the changes that were realizedafter the participation of the village in the Living Environment Welfare Project.
Litter-strewn streets werereplaced with clean thoroughfares. The overall atmosphere of the village was greatly improved along with the pleasant appearance of villagers.
2) GTV Reporter, Lee Tae-hui
“This underpass was filthy only months ago before it was completely redoneby the villagers”
This place used to be a trash dumping ground, but it has now become a communal resting place.
Change came not only in the appearance but also in the behavior of residents.
3) Park Gook-hui / Waseon Village, Wa-dong, Ansan City
“Separate trash collection was not carefully observed by residents. But now we keep the trash collection site clean and every household practices trash separation.”
The Living Environment Welfare Project was initiated by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government in 2012 so as to improve the image of old villages.
4) Proactive Participation by Residents
This project is based on residentparticipation in identifying areas for improvement anduting the actual work.
4) Kang Joong-ho / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Living Environment Welfare Team
“The provincial government providedactive support for individual projects including house roofing and establishing separate trash collection sites. This project achieved very high satisfaction rates among residents, and we will expand the project to include more villages.”
Waseon (와선) Village in Ansan (안산) City was a trial case for the project that began last year through the opensolicitationof applications.
Since the project has received positive responses fromvillagers, the Gyeonggi Provincial Governmentplans to implement the projectin more selected villages.
 
Article6. Gyeonggi Intensifies Dust Warning Service(0409-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
With the gritty dust season approaching in Korea, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government has intensified dust and micro-dust warning services to help the public protect themselves. Dust that is carried in on easterly winds usually hits the country hardest at this time of year.
[Report]
While the occurrences of micro-dust,which raised health concerns in Korea during winter, have fallen to normal levels, the onset of the dust season is causing worries among the public yet again.
1) Yoon Deon-geun / Godeung-song, Suwon City
“There will be increasing levels of dust. I don’t know how to cope with it. I am worried.”
The best way to cope with the dust is to be aware of its onset in advance, wear a mask and refrain from going outdoors. However, it is not easy to be aware of every dust occurrence.
2) Gyeonggi to Intensify Dust and Micro-Dust Warning Services
To improve public awareness of the onset of dust and micro-dust, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government plans to intensify dust warning services via online and offline media.
3) Sandy Dust Warnings Upon Occurrence Plus Separate Micro-Dust Warnings
Immediate dust warnings will be given based on information from the Meteorological Agency regardless of the effectuation of public warnings. When micro-dust occurs simultaneously with dust, micro-dust warnings will be given separately.
4) Park Seong-nam / Director, Gyeonggi Province Climate and Air Quality management Division
“There are limited means of alerting the public. So we will use multiple channels to reach the public as best as we can so that…”
5) Registration for Warning Message Service: http://gihe.gg.go.kr
Dust warnings can be received via mobile phones by registering for the warning text message servicethrough the homepage of the Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment.
Warnings are also provided via social networking services, street electric notice boards, and display screens on G-buses.
Dust problems are becoming more serious each year, so it is best to keep alert andbe prepared. 
Article7. Gyeonggi Provincial Government Reforms Audit System (140410-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government recently announced that it will extensively reform its audit tem in order to better facilitate regulatory reformation. The current audit tem is considered to be the cause of an attitude against change which prevails among provincial officials.
[Report]
1) Announcement of Gyeonggi Province Audit System Reformation / (April 9th)
The core of the audit tem reformation is the introduction of the Advance Audit Consultation System.
2) Consultation-Based Audit to Replace Inspection-Based Audit
A provincial spokesperson stated that the new audit tem will be based on advance consultations to address possible problems early onso as to expedite administrative activities, instead of being based on the inspection and disclosure of malpractices.
3) [SOUNDBITE] Jeon Bon-hui / Gyeonggi Province Auditor
“Provincial officials tend to act negatively on regulatory mitigation for fear of drawing suspicions during an audit, which is a major hindrance in the realization of regulatory reform.”
4) First Problem-Orientated Audit ConsultationSystem in Korea
It is natural for officials to avoid actively involving themselves in regulatory mitigation,fearing that their actions may be mistaken as special favors or the violation of administrative procedures.Accordingly, five specific policies for the improvement of audit culturewere announced
CG1)
Officials will be provided with guidance and advice to prevent unintended mistakes.
An Advance Audit Consulting Committee will be established for the clarification of the legal interpretation of actionsso as to soften the rigid attitudes of officials.
CG2)
An improved audit performance evaluation tem will be established.
Audit ombudsmen comprised of members of the public will beintroduced.
Officials who show exemplary conduct in regulatory mitigation and active administrativeperformance will be identified and supported.