[Help for \’families in crisis\’]

Gyeonggi province has planned out a measure to aid low-income families that did not receive any support benefits in the past.

Song, a homeless, was sent to the clinic after he sustained a third-degree burn on his ankle.

interview : Kim, Seok-han, attending physician

Song is not even eligible for medical aid for charity patients, because he is part of a family.

However, his family shunned him on account of his lack of ability to earn money. Now, he is a homeless who can not receive medical aid.

Gyeonggi province has stepped in for those people who have not been getting the proper aid needed from the government under the nominal definition and terms of a family in economic crisis.

Compared to the government\’s emergency welfare aid, aid for living and medical expenses are the same, however, aid will continue to be dispersed until the crisis is over, with no set period of dispersal. Plus, the province is planning on paying the tuition of high school students under financial burden.

interview : Lee, Cheol-seob, Welfare Policy Director, Gyeonggi province

This new measure will allow 3000 households this year, and 7000 households next year to receive living costs and have medical expenses covered.

[Safety of food in the province]

Gyeonggi province has signed a food safety management agreement with supermarkets within the province.

The recent melamine crisis has roused consumers worries about food safety.

interview : Yu Mi-kyeong, Housewife

Gyeonggi province has signed the food safety management agreement with five supermarket chains within the province in order to provide consumers with information about food safety.

A total of about 100 supermarkets that were included in the agreement possess over 70% of Gyeonggi\’s agricultural, farm, and marine product distribution.

Gyeonggi province will examine each store monthly regarding safety, and will post the results for consumers.

interview : Kim, Mun-su, Gyeonggi Provincial Governor

The tests will be conducted by the Research institute of public health and environment and the Veterinary Service. Both foods certified or not certified for quality will be tested.

[Protection for senior citizens]

The Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly is the first to enact an elderly abuse prevention and protection ordinance.

Records at the end of 2007 show that Gyeonggi province\’s elderly population makes up about 8% of the total population.

While the average age of the elderly is increasing rapidly, public measures to confront such changes are urgently needed.

The Gyeonggi provincial assembly enacted the ordinance on elderly abuse prevention and protection for the first time in Korea.

Interview : Park Myeong-hee, member of the Bosa women\’s assembly

The event included a performance to help make known the enactment of the ordinance with a 2m gavel, which also hit staff who had \’undutiful\’ written on them.

When this ordinance goes into effect, various plans to protect senior citizens will be established. Also, this will be the basis for budget support for senior-related organizations and facilities.

[Increasing Investments from Europe]

Gyeonggi province and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea have signed an agreement for mutual cooperation.

Since the forth quarter, Gyeonggi province has shown good results, attracting 43 foreign companies to invest more than $10 billion.

However, due to the recent financial crisis in the United States, the investments of american companies, which make up more than half of the 43 companies, are indefinite.

In order to expand the market to Europe and revitalize domestic investment, Gyeonggi province signed a mutual cooperation agreement with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea.

Moreover, Jean Marie Hurtiger of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea was appointed as the spokesperson of Gyeonggi province.

This agreement and appointment will lead Gyeonggi and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea to cooperate in attracting European investment, information exchanges, project promotion, a Gyeonggi tour of the European Film Festival, and North Korea support projects

This agreement is considered crucial not only for the potential financial benefit involved, but also for the potential exchanges of culture, tourism, and education between Korea and Europe.

[Low-income support plan]

Gyeonggi province opened a forum to discuss the support plans of low-income families.

People say it is tough to earn a living these days. For prices and interest rates have risen while actual income levels have dropped.

On October 6, Gyeonggi province held a forum to find ways to help low-income groups of senior citizens and juveniles, who are not actually involved in any kind of economic activity.

interview : Kim, Gyeong-han, representative director of Gyeonggi Welfare Foundation

Discussions on the current status of poverty and inequality after the Asian economic crisis, living conditions of low-income families, and welfare support were held during this forum.

They exchanged various opinions on education, housing, welfare, health care, and job policies of the low-income group.

Gyeonggi province has earmarked an extra $121 million on a \’financial stabilization plan to overcome high oil prices.\’

[Greenbelt Rezoned]

On September 19, the government announced that more greenbelt areas will be rezoned to make way for housing developments.

Gyeonggi province welcomed this decision, however there were many who oppose it as well.

The total greenbelt of Gyeonggi province totals 1257km², 12% of the total land mass in the province and contains 31% of the total greenbelt in Korea.

At present, within the greenbelt in the province there are many buildings such as warehouses that were built illegally. With such infringing structures in greenbelts accounting for 65% of all such buildings in Korea much damage has been caused to the green areas.

Currently, more than 65% of greenbelts within the province are damaged by illegal establishments such as warehouses.

Both the government and the province agree on using such damaged green land for other environmentally-friendly uses.

nterview: Kim, Ho-kyeom / Director of Gyeonggi provincial policy department

Meanwhile, many opposes the development. One reason is that it is much more difficult to reverse the decision once the greenbelt has been rezoned.

It is true that the development of greenbelt areas in Gyeonggi province have been delayed until now. The government and the province should work closely to review this case more carefully.

[SNU\’s Dental Hospital in Gyeonggi]

Following the confirmation of Seoul University Hospital last May, the Seoul National University Dental Hospital will also be built in Osan.

Both Seoul University Hospital and the Dental Hospital are to be located in Osan, Gyeonggi province.

Gyeonggi province, Osan and Seoul National University Dental Hospital have agreed on the mutual cooperation of the establishment of the Seoul National University Dental Hospital.

The Osan Seoul National University Dental Hospital will be constructed on 33,000m² of land in Naesammi-dong, Osan-city, will be started in 2010 and finished by 2012.

The Hospital will invest about $56 million on a Professional oral care center, a Disabled care center, and a Dental Research and Development Center.

Interview : Jang, Yeon-gil, Director of Seoul National University Dental Hospital

With SNU\’s involvement, the government plans to attract a high-tech medical complex will soon reach fruition.

Interview : Lee, Gi-ha, Osan city mayor

If the plans for the high-tech medical complex are successful, not only will the residents of the southwestern part of the province receive better medical care, but the overall level of Korea\’s medical industry will be improved.