[Lawsuit over Cigarette Fires]

Gyeonggi Provincerequesting a settlementthe tobacco company KT&G over fires startedtheir cigarettes. Thisthe first time in Korea that either a citizen or a public agency has sued a tobacco company.

Gyeonggi Province has initiated a lawsuit regarding fires startedKT&G cigarettes.

On the 13th in the afternoon attorney Bae Geum-ja,the defendant, a manager at KT&G submitted their case to Suwon District Court.

Gyeonggi Province insisted that the defendant providepossible measures to produce a safe product. And KT&G exports self-extinguishing cigarettes abroad, it doesn`t sell them domestically.

The self-extinguishing cigarette it produces remains lit for only 2 to 3 seconds after being discarded.

At present the self-extinguishing cigarettes are sold in some US States,Canada. By 2011 they will become mandatory in Europe through proposals being carried out.

Gyeonggi Provincepressing forward with its lawsuit for losses incurred due to fire damage. In the past 3 years the damage has totaled $58,856,000. The province plans to make fire prevention an issue of social responsibility for cigarette companies.

[Let`s use 120]

The Gyeonggi call center that can be reached to answer various civil appealsprovide informationnow extending its hours of operation to include nightsholidays. Specialists will also be available to service foreignersthe handicapped.

The 120 Gyeonggi Call Centerexpanding its operations.

In line with the growing demand of s, starting the 15th of this month, the service was extended to include hours8 am to 12 o`clock midnight including holidaysweekends.

Additionally, the service will be provided to the hearing impaired through special video communications,to foreigners.

When calling the sign language exclusive line the callerconnected to a professional counselor who can answer questions using sign language.

The foreigners counselor can help foreigners with counseling regarding civil appeals.

By introducing late night counselingeven a service in sign language, certain residents that were alienatedadministrative service can now benefit muchit.

[Scholarships of Hope]

Gyeonggi Province has stepped forward to provide support for the children of low-income families.

This year Seon-hak, going on to the final year of high school, has been badly off, butdevotedgot good grades, so for the second half of last year was awarded a scholarshipthe province.

It was a big present for Seon-hak`s family who couldn`t afford even the school registration fees.

Gyeonggi Province has begun to provide need-based scholarships to children of low-income families in Gyeonggi Province.

The amounts are $443 for middle$591 for high school students.

Registration for the needs based scholarship can be done at one`s local administrative office starting in February. Selected recipients will start to receive supporttheof February.

[Learning Market Economics]

An economics campculture class intended for local elementary school students at an outdoor market in Suwongaining some good reviews.

The children pass out chocolates they made themselves to merchants in the market wishing them a Happy New Year.

The children`s eyes are full of wonder as they look around the market that they don`t visit very often.

The children return to the classroommakeenjoy the fruitfish they saw in the market.

Suwon`s Motgol Market held an economics campculture class for the first time this year during school vacation for children to have a hands-on experience.

Losing out to supermarketsdepartment stores, markets are becoming a more familiar sight in everyday life through such various programs.

[Creating a Green City]

A `topsoil management` tem uses soilapartment developments or new town projects in the building of parksother green areas. First introduced in Suwon, the practicegrabbing much attention.

The first 30 to 50 centimeters of topsoil are made up of micro-organisms, dead leavesdecomposed animal corpses that have been layering between tenshundreds of years. This layersuitable for plant growth.

From last year Suwon has been carrying out a topsoil management tem which recycles the topsoil takenlarge-scale land development projects.

This children`s park built last year had in fact been made with topsoilthe Ingeun Land Development projectHanchang DevelopmentsConstruction.

This year Suwon has plans to use the soilthe Gwanggyo New City development, the Homaeshilthe Gweonseon Land Development projects to build 6 parks.

Reusing abandoned soil for small parks projects will serve as a stepping stone for large green city projects.

[Ceramic Festival D-100]

The Gyeonggi World Ceramic Biennale held every 2 years will be held this April.

For one month starting April 25th, the Gyeonggi World Ceramic Biennale will be hosted in Icheon, GyeonggiYeoju.

This year`s biennale, the fifth so far will be held under the theme `adventure of fire.` Pottersaround the world will display their worksa concerta playing in the mud experience along with various other programs that are planned.

More than 1700 potters70 countries will attend with 183 prizes to be awarded, the greatest ever drawing much attention.

Gyeonggi Province has begun posting publicity stickers 100 days before the opening day of the biennale

Tickets for the 2009 Gyeonggi World Ceramic Biennale are on sale on the World Ceramic Exhibition Foundation website.

[Civil Appeals Till Late Night]

A civil appeals office accepting applications until late at night has been receiving good reviewsresidents.

Thisa community center in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province at 9pm.

Pak made his way to the community center after hearing about the extended hours.

The passport division in Seongnamopen until late helping with issuing passports.

The response has been good for residents.

At present, local autonomies that introduce the late night civil appeals duty include Seongnam, AnsanGoyang, but the trendgrowingis also expanding to include services other than passports.