[Welcoming the Year of Hope, 2009]

Year 2009, the year of the cow, looks bright.
On the night of the 31st 40,000 Gyeonggi residents gathered at Imjingak, Paju to ring in the New Year.

The bell of peace welcomed 2009.

On the 31st, a New Year`s Eve event was held to put the past year behind uslook forward to 2009.

Despite the cold weather children, friendslovers held each others hands,bright faces could be seen welcoming the new year.

Provincial Governor Kim Mun-su greetedencouraged residents who came out to watch the ringing of the bell.

Mean in Peaceful World Park located nearby bell tower famous singers held a concert adding to the excitement of the New Year.

[Changes in the New Year]

Let`s take a look at some policies changes in Gyeonggi this year. Benefits will be expanded for large families,the bus service will be improved.

This year, families with 3 or more children will receive a 50% discount off their car acquisition tax,registration. Also, education support for single parent families for children up to 8 years old will be extended to families with children up to 10 years old.

Bus use will become more convenient.

A rapid bus making only 4 stops willin Julywill become part of the Gyeonggi, Seoul,Incheon unified bus information temOctober.

Also,January, a lostfound site for metropolitan buses will be run.
If you have lost something in a metropolitan bus, you might find it through this site.

From October pets 3 months old or older must be registered under their owners` names. Owners of unregistered pets will be fined $202

Further, large-sized companies will also be able to build factories or build extensions in about 80 industrial complex growth management areas. The sphere of support for smallmedium businesses will be extendedmanufacturing to gas, miningthe service sectors.

3. [Hope through sharing]

In these financially challenging times helping hands are hard to find. Nevertheless, a fund has been raised to be used to help residents.

Lee Seung-mu has been treated at this hospital in Ansan for cerebral hemorrhaging since last May.

His wifedevastated when looking at her husband who cannot move his armslegs.

Despitehaving much saved for medical expenses, the social welfare joint fundraising association covered the medical coststoo long ago.

The fundraising association has also been a big help to a local children`s center.

The books at this center have mostly been purchasedthe fundraising association.

The amount of contributions have diminished in this bad economy.

Business contributions have especially ped compared with last year.

A little help goes a long way in helpinggiving hope to less fortunate residents around us.

[Securing Call Center Work]

The 120 call center answers various complaintsinconveniences in Gyeonggi Province. And the number of residents using the service has doubled since it first opened. Gyeonggi Province has decided to provide better service in the call center starting this year.

Thisthe Gyeonggi Province Call Center, which opened in May of last year.
The number of calls have increased780 soon after opening, to an average of about 1400 calls a day.

The most frequent calls, some 28%, are regarding passports, followedtransportation,complaints.

Recently, the number of calls relating to the down economy have greatly increased.

To better handle the growing number of calls, the Gyeonggi Province Call Center willoffering servicesyear round8 am to 12 midnightJanuary 15th. Englishsign language inquiries will also be fielded.

With a simple call even foreignersthe handicapped can benefitthis customer service soon to be offered to an even wider audience.

[Under a Watchful Eye]

CCTVs keep a watchful eye over dark alleysquiet streets. Easily spotted on streets, more closed-circuit security CCTVs will be put to use starting next year.

Thisa CCTV tem monitoring set up in a part of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. By pressing the CCTV button, one can contact the tracking station.

All 240 CCTVs in Hwaseong recordare operatedthe center.

CCTVs have been placed in alleysother places likely for a crime to take place. They seem to have some effect in preventing crime as crime rates are down.

This year Gyeonggi Province has a total of 1200 CCTV cameras installed, but next year will set up 535 more CCTVs in20 citiestowns in the province including 95 in Bucheon,65 in Ansan.

While there are some who say that CCTV`s infringe on their privacy, most residents are quite happy with the CCTVs being installed.

CCTVs are great at solving criminal cases,preventing crime, but with the greater number of CCTVs being installed comes a greater infringement on one`s privacy. Discretion must be taken when thinking of the goal in mind.

[Laundromat of Love]

Many unfortunate residents dohave a washing machine making it difficult for them to wash their own clothes. Fortunately, therea place that can do their laundry for them.

This year, 75 year old Jo Myeong-bunliving alone farher children.
Advanced in years, even moving arounddoing basic houseworkthe laundrycleaning take great amounts of energy.

The Changjeon Dong Community Center in Icheon, Gyeonggi does the laundry for seniors living alonehave trouble taking care of themselves.

The service which has been going on for 2 years now collects laundry twice a week washesdelivers.

The volunteers that participate in the laundry clean-up find it rewarding.

By word of mouth the Changjeon Dong Community Center laundromat has grown in popularity, now other agencies are using this community center as a benchmark.

Less fortunate residents livingthemselves can feel much warmththeir neighbors this winter.

[Living Room Theater]

The `living room theater`being run in various places in the province devoid of any cultural activities for residents.

Thisa town hall in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province.

Many village residents have gathered after hearing about the films played in the `Living room theater.`

The Gyeonggi Film Commission has been running the `living room theater` program for three years now as a way for Gyeonggi residents living in secluded areas to experience film.

Today`s filmfrom the 1960s, `a Coachman.`

Most of the residents who come to watch the films are seniors who haven`t had many chances to view movies. Some haven`t seen a film in dozens of years.

Living room theater` will be playing until February 5th in Gapyeong, Yeoncheon30 places lacking cultural facilities in the province.

We look forward to the living room theater providing culture through film in every corner of the province.