1. [U-Gyeonggi!]

A ubiquitous era that makes networking possible anytime, anywhere is expected to soon be here. Gyeonggi presented a vision for the construction of \’U-Gyeonggi,\’ the goal of a ubiquitous city.

Gyeonggi Province presented its vision for a hi-tech city in which all fields including education and culture, medicine, and transportation will be applied.

1) s- U-Gyeonggi Development Declaration Ceremony/ Suwon LIG Ingenium (November 4th)

With 2020 as their goal the province has plans to increase venture company facilities, and develop the IT and BT industries to build a ubiquitous city.

2) s- Plan to develop IT, BT industries

Further, to build a network of related agencies, 11 public agencies including the Gyeonggi Province Ministry of Education concluded an agreement.

3) s- Gyeonggi Province- agreement concluded to build network with 11 agencies

4)
{To build an agreed system of Gyeonggi Province and various related agencies that are faster, more integrated, the user-friendly U environment will be set up.}

With this goal, Gyeonggi Province will build the Suwon Gwanggyo, and Paju Gyoha new towns, now under construction, into new cities with a ubiquitous foundation.

5) s- Gyeonggi Province to apply ubiquitous systems to new cities

However, experts indicated that building the technical infrastructure, and government support are important to building a complete ubiquitous system in such a short period.

6)
{The ubiquitous system we are all pursuing is going to take a great deal of time, so from the government knowing how much of the people\’s tax money will be allocated to this project is important.}

In ten years time our lives could become more comfortable thanks to hi-tech developments.

2. [2nd Phase Regular Meeting]

Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly began their second phase regular meeting. More than twenty case deliberations, onsite inspections and various other activities were laid out.

Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly\’s 237th second phase regular meeting began on the 4th.

1)s-Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly 2nd phase regular meeting held (November 4th)

For the duration of the regular meeting there were questions and answers regarding provincial government and education administration.

2)
(Keeping in mind that much support for policies are needed that can reduce the cost of private education for residents, I plan to push for policies that will further activate cyber home school programs.)

Further, next year Gyeonggi Province will examine a budget proposal for general accounting, special accounting tax revenue, and annual expenditures.

Plus, Gyeonggi Province could consider 21 cases from a regulation proposal regarding the development of Gyeonggi strategic industries.

3)s-21 cases planned to be considered

During this regular meeting, plans for onsite inspections including the Baek Nam-jun Art Center, the Last Expresses birthplace, and livestock waste recycling facilities.

4)s-Plans to carry out onsite inspections

5)
(The plan is to enact an ordinance for public welfare and others to be set up, and make random visits to onsite civilians to see what is missing and provide for those who are in need.)

In the regular meeting which will be held for 46 days, we look forward to active legislation and onsite activity for residents.

6)s-2nd phase Regular Meeting (November 4th ~ December 19th)

3. [Good Evuluation at G-FAIR]

The recently held G-FAIR 2008 is receiving favorable reviews.

On the 29th, the G-FAIR 2008, which was held for 3 days recorded good results.

1)s-G-FAIR 2008 (October 29th ~ October 31st)

According to the province\’s calculations about 400 foreign buyers from 25 countries and 32,000 visitors from within Korea and abroad came to this grand scale event.

2)s-Attended by 400 foreign buyers from 25 countries

3)
(I think the event was more successful than it could have been because the 400 buyers who were invited came after being provided with data about the participating companies.)

The effect is grabbing the attention of many as export deals, and export contracts have increased by 48.5% and 44.1% respectively year on year.

4)s-Export deals totaled $520 million
Export contracts totaled $140 million

At this event especially the foreign buyers and small and medium businesses held one on one business deliberations, and purchase deals were made between Korean conglomerates and small and medium businesses.

In the future, the province will inform those of the excellence of Gyeonggi products to those within Korea and abroad with plans to grow as a global event that can help small and medium businesses with exports.

4. [Alternative Energy \’Alive\’}

Gyeonggi Province is carrying out renewable energy projects to help stabilize the economy. Recently, the development of alternative energy and related government funds have been secured which looks like smooth sailing from here on out.

This is a solar power panel set-up on the roof of a social welfare facility in Gyeonggi Province.

This building is in the final stages of having a power supply that will be available for hot water and heating.

Not counting initial costs for installation, solar energy costs almost nothing to maintain and is in the spotlight as an alternative to fossil fuels.

1)s- Solar energy, low operating costs

Recently, Gyeonggi Province has secured $10.49 million in government support to supplement farming and fishing villages and social welfare facilities with renewable energy.

2) s- $10.49 million secured for field of renewable energy

3)
(To invest for the sake of stabilizing the economy there is a plan to install solar panels at farms and social welfare centers.)

Gyeonggi Province has plans with the budget it secured to support the installation of solar panels in farming and fishing villages, and for social welfare centers to cover heating costs, geothermal energy equipment and wind power equipment.

4) s- Plans to support farming and fishing villages, and social welfare centers

By using renewable energy, costs are driven down improving the quality of life for residents.

5. [Limits for Foreign High Schools]

At present Gyeonggi foreign high schools receive national support, but from next year admissions will be limited to students from Gyeonggi

Last year nearly 30% of students who were admitted to foreign high schools within the province were from outside Gyeonggi Province.

1)s- 30% of students from outside Gyeonggi Province

Foreign high schools in Gyeonggi began to recruit excelling students from across the country, however, competition grew fierce while the burden of private education was cited as a problem.

The province ministry of education decided to limit admissions from prospective students from outside Gyeonggi to give more chances for excelling students within the province.

2)s- Gyeonggi Province, admissions limits set

3)
(By carrying out limits on regions within Gyeonggi Province our Gyeonggi students can have preference for admissions and the effect of reducing private education costs can be realized.)

Prospective students will be selected among middle school students attending school in the province, those who have finished middle school in Gyeonggi, and those who are from some other city or province that doesn\’t have a foreign language school.

4) Prospective students: Middle school students who are attending or completed middle school in the province, and those from a city, province with no foreign high schools.

Accordingly, admissions opportunities will be greatly expanded for second year middle school students planning to attend foreign or international high schools from 2010.

5)s- starting from 2010 (from those presently in 2nd year of middle school)

With regional limits set up, about 1000 more middle school students will be able to attend foreign, or international high schools.

8)s- opportunities for middle school students in province to increase

6. [Design\’s Competitive Edge]

Each year Gyeonggi Province holds the G-Design fair, which is a design public subscription. Successful candidates become involved in small and medium businesses product design which in effect solves both business support and designer employment problems.

Designs of all fields including clothing, electronics, and jewelry take shape through this competition.

Gyeonggi Province has held the \’G-Design Fair 2008 for the development of design, and to improve the competitiveness of small and medium businesses\’ products.

1) s- \’G-Design Fair 2008\’/Korea Design Center (November 5th – November 8th)

This year at the 13th design fair an employment consulting corner has been set up for those seeking employment, which has received good reviews.

2) s- Employment consulting corner set up

3)
{There is more to see compared with other exhibits, and its good because I can get lots of information.}

Through public subscription, the province is able to dig up fresh ideas and connect them to small and medium businesses in the province that are having trouble with design development.

4)
{Eventhough companies intend on carrying out design development there are no expert designers, and adding to this are the financial difficulties they sometimes face, so we hold the public subscription for design development and to help businesses.}

Shedding its chief aim, the G-Fair provides new ideas to companies and chances for employment for designers.

7. [Egg Vending Machines]

Most people usually think of vending machines for coffee or drinks. However, recently a poultry farm came up with the idea and the egg vending machine was born.

This is an apartment complex in Gwangju City.
This is where an egg vending machine can be found.

1)s-\’Egg vending machine\’/Gyeonggi Province Gwangju City

The way the vending machine works is after selecting the eggs you would like to buy, and inserting cash or coins into the machine, you can obtain a pack of 10 eggs.

Delivered straight from the farm and priced at 2500 won they are about 1,000 won cheaper than market price, and the fresh eggs are delivered daily making the machines popular among residents.

2)s-Cheaper than market average

3)
(The eggs are fresh so its good using the vending machine.)

4)
(The vending machine eggs are tasty, fresh, and the machine is easy to use so I like it.)

Farms that are ten minutes away from the apartment supply freshly laid eggs by the middle of the morning to the vending machines.

5)s-Nearby farms distribute eggs by mid-morning

Also, the eggs that don\’t sell are removed in the afternoon to maintain a level of freshness.

Those vending machines which costs 60 million won and consists of an association of 11 farms in the Gwangju region had 40% of the costs covered in government support.

6)s-40% of investment for project supported by city

7)
(At present one machine in in operation with 9 more being installed. If there is a chance, more will be introduced.)

The egg vending machine, born of a new idea provides fresh, reliable eggs and is becoming a new source of income for poultry farmers.