[The Yellow Sea Era!]

An agreement between the regions of the Yellow Sea in Gyeonggi Province and China\’s eastern coast is taking shape. The Governors\’ Association of Korea held a meeting for the Yellow Sea Region. Here they presented a concrete deliberation.

Leaders from Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, North Jeolla Province, and South Jeolla Province which all share a coast with the Yellow Sea attended the 4 region Governors\’ Association of Korea meeting.

-Kim Mun-su, Gyeonggi Provincial Governor-

At the meeting the main topics discussed were the formation of a Korean-Chinese regional alliance, and the environmental protection of the Yellow Sea Region.

After the meeting the 4 leaders of cities and provinces that attended presented a deliberation promising mutual cooperation regarding the main topics discussed.

From now on these regions plan to make consultative organizations for mutual cooperation as soon as the second quarter in 7 cities located on the Chinese coast including and Tianjin and Shanhai.

[General Bus Policy]

With skyrocketing oil prices the number of commuters using public transportation is increasing. Gyeonggi Province has presented a general bus policy to provide more convenience to residents.

In this era of high oil prices Gyeonggi Province has written policy on buses that are becoming the residents\’ main mode of transportation.

First of all, of the 1900 bus routes the most often used 88 routes will be supplied with 260 buses for the routes to run during rush hour.

Further, following the increase in number of express bus routes, there is a plan for 3 buses running at night to be added.

The express bus will of course strive to reduce travel time by both making the route more direct, and eliminating overlapping routes.

In addition, by the end of the year the metropolitan combined transfer system will be extended to express buses, which looks as if it could greatly improve the convenience of riders.

Gyeonggi Province has taken into consideration the recent economic difficulties of the less fortunate and has frozen bus fares, and has provided bus companies with $38.4 million.

[Leafkist International Symposium]

To improve the competitive edge of agricultural products in Gyeonggi Province agricultural products originating from 4 regions including Hwaseong and Anseong will be distributed under the \’Leafkist\’ label. An international symposium was held to enter world markets under the \’Leafkist\’ label.

The \’Leafkist\’ brand has been created as a joint brand of pears, grapes and other produce from Gyeonggi Province.

An international symposium for the globalization of the Leafkist brand was held for agriculture experts from Korea and abroad.

-An Jae-gyeong, NACF Central Committee Gyeonggi Regional Headquarters-

The international symposium proceeded by top policy advisors of the European Cooperative Association, \’Prodromos\’ and others from nations of advanced agriculture.

Farmers and Korean experts discussed the development and direction of Korean farming as a strategy to spring forward the \’Leafkist\’ brand into world markets.

In the Leafkist brand project Gyeonggi Province and Gyeonggi NACF and about 600 farmers attended.

Thanks to securing steady sales and diversified product planning, in one year since its inception $3.4 million of revenue has been recorded improving the brand recognition.

[GRRC added in 3 places]

Through a regional cooperative research center Gyeonggi Province is supporting colleges and businesses connected in joint research. This year, 3 more colleges will be selected as recipients for the funding.

This is the Dankook University advanced functional nano organic and inorganic materials research center.

Research to develop solar cell materials is underway.

Due to the recent spike in oil prices solar power takes center stage as an alternative energy source while research and development into solar energy is gaining attention.

-Professor Lee Jun-yeop, Dankook University-

Gyeonggi Province designated Dankook University\’s Advanced Functional research center and 2 other places as regional cooperative research centers that support joint research between colleges and businesses.

The research organizations that will be selected as a regional cooperative research centers will receive $384,000 in research and development aid according to interim reports and results for a duration of up to 9 years for colleges and up to 6 years for research organizations.

Meanwhile through the regional cooperative research center project results in patent applications, commercialization, and the training of excellent technical human resources have been achieved.

An extension of regional cooperative research centers is seen to expand on a lacking research foundation in the province, and help secure domestic technical skills.

[Ginseng Cooperative is Created]

Gaesong Ginseng is widely known in the ginseng world. However, in the past, 4 ginseng cooperatives competed against each other to promote Gaesong Ginseng, but have now joined forces for the development of Ginseng in Gyeonggi Province.

The benefits of ginseng is known all over the world.

And the chief producing district for Korean ginseng
is widely known to be Geumsan, South Chungcheong province.

Gyeonggi Province together with South Chungcheong Province and North Gyeongsang Province s one of 3 chief producing districts in Korea.

Gyeonggi Province produces half of all the 6 year red ginseng,
and cultivates nearly 20% of ginseng nationally, but the truth is
it is still not as widely known for ginseng as South Chungcheong province.

-Professor Im Byeong-ok, Jungang University-

Four ginseng corps including those from Kimpo, Paju and Anseong joined forces for the development of the Gyeonggi ginseng industry.

The ginseng development association being formed is the path leading to coexistence.

-Kim In-su, Gaeseong Ginseng National Agricultural Corporation Federation-

Gyeonggi Province\’s ginseng development association is gaining much attention in its branding of produce strategy to enter world markets and strengthen competitiveness.

[From Dongtan to Gangnam in a blink]

A　construction project for a rapid transit train is expected to begin in earnest that will travel from the Dongtan new city to Seoul\’s Gangnam in just 18 minutes.

Assertions have been brought up for a project to connect the metropolitan area through a network of rapid transit trains in order to solve Gyeonggi\’s chronic traffic congestion.

On the 30th, at the metropolitan rapid transit train construction proposal policy forum experts from all walks of life agreed on the necessity of a metropolitan transportation method to solve traffic problems.

Gyeonggi province has a plan to prioritize carrying a out trial rapid transit train service being researched through a commission by the province that will travel the 37.7km from Dongtan to Gangnam, Seoul in 18 minutes.

-Kim Mun-su, Gyeonggi Provincial Governor-

The metropolitan rapid transit network will connect main stops in the metropolitan area in a straight line, while maintaining stops at least 10 km apart in the province to minimize station construction, building connecting transportation system and considering the possibility and basic principles of new and existing lines.
The metropolitan rapid transit train overcoming limits of roads is rising as a new alternative to solve the traffic congestion residents face.

[Pet Fun Park Built]

With the increase in pet owners the pet-related services market is growing. Such a place that will cater to pet lovers is the Pet Complex Park which is a place that looks after pets and where people can also enjoy themselves is to be built in Gyeonggi.
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The first pet theme park in the country is being built in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi.

On the 1st Yangpyeong county and Pet Fun Park Incorporated signed a business agreement to build a pet complex park called Pet Fun Park.

-Kim Mun-su Provincial Governor-

The Pet Fun Park will begin construction next year on a 33,000 square meter plot with a budget of $192.3 million to be completed by 2012.

-Kim Seon-gyo, Yangpyeong County Governor-

Further to build an infrastructure and foundation for the pet industry 3 kinds of main facilities will be going in including a pet information center and breeding research center along with a theme park that can be enjoyed by pet and people.

For those who have more or less experienced inconvenience in the past taking their pets to public parks now have a new place to comfortably take their pet.