Greetings, everyone, and thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV. I’m Don Valiant and this is the news from Gyeonggi Province this week. 1. Gyeonggi Reveals Largest Budget Draft in History for 2020 (1104-1) On November 4, Gyeonggi Province revealed its largest budget draft in history for the year 2020. The most significant factors for such an increase were allocations for welfare and the environment. ► Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (November 4) Announcement of Gyeonggi Province Budget Plans for 2020 The total amount of the budget proposed for next year is KRW 27.32 trillion. ► Increased 10.9% from 2019 This represents a 10.9 percent increase over this year’s budget. In a press conference, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung (이재명) explained that next year’s budget was planned based on the principle that fair society changes people’s lives. ► Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung “We focused on increasing investment in cost-effective projects that generate multiple results economically and realizing tax justice through identification of hidden tax revenue sources.” ► 5 Key Investment Fields: Resident Ownership, Welfare, Innovation, Cleanliness, and Safety Gyeonggi plans to focus its spending on five key fields: resident ownership, welfare, innovation, cleanliness, and safety. This focus entails notable increases in allocations for welfare and the environment. ► Welfare Allocations Exceed KRW 10 Trillion For the first time in Gyeonggi’s history, welfare allocations exceed KRW 10 trillion. This includes KRW 105.4 billion for youth basic income payments, KRW 29.6 billion for postnatal care support, and KRW 19.8 billion for school uniform cost support as well as new youth transportation cost support. ► Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung “We intend to alleviate the transportation cost burden borne by youths and adolescents, a social segment that faces the greatest economic difficulties.” ► Environment Allocations Increase 77.2% Environment allocations increased 77.2 percent to KRW 1.22 trillion. Of particular note, allocations for diesel vehicle exhaust control programs, electric vehicle purchase support programs, and microdust reduction programs increased significantly ► Cooperation with Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly and Office of Education for Education Programs Education allocations include KRW 261.8 billion for programs that will be implemented in cooperation with the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly and the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education. Gyeonggi Province’s budget for 2020 will be reviewed by the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly during its 340th regular session that began on November 5.   2. Gyeonggi Permits Use of Electric Scooters on Cycling Paths (1104-2) In order to enable electric scooter riders to use bicycle paths – which is currently not permitted – and help alleviate traffic congestion, Gyeonggi Province launched a program to substantiate the effectiveness of such usage. According to the Road Traffic Act, electric scooters are classified as motor-powered cycles and thus not permitted on bicycle paths. Moreover, scooter riders require licenses and helmets. However, these regulations are generally not followed. ► Electric Scooter User “I have been using sidewalks as most electric scooter riders do since I thought it was alright to do so.” ► Use of Electric Scooters Permitted on Designated Bicycle Path Sections in Gyeonggi The use of electric scooters is now permitted on designated bicycle path sections in Gyeonggi Province. ► Cheonggye Central Park – Dongtan Station, Wangbaesan – Dongtan Station For this program, two bicycle path sections from Dongtan (동탄) Station in Hwaseong (화성) City will be open for one year, one path now and the other next year, for use by licensed electric scooter riders who are over 18 years of age. ► Electric Scooter Rental Service Opens Electric scooter rental services also opened at Dongtan Station and nearby apartment complexes with rental fees of KRW 850 for the first 5 minutes and KRW 100 for each minute thereafter. ► Park Se-ywon, Hwaseong City Resident “Since there are lengthy intervals between buses in this neighborhood, we often have to wait a long time for a bus. I think it will be nice (to use electric scooters) since it can save me time and is also safe.” This substantiation program was launched following its selection by the central government as a timed regulation exemption program, referred to as a regulation sandbox. ► Yu Gye-yeong, Director, Gyeonggi Province Regulatory Reform Division “We will promote personal mobility through legislation with safety issues addressed.” Through this substantiation program, the outlook is favorable for the revision of regulations to enable electric scooter usage on bicycle paths while mitigating travel on crowded buses.   3. Gyeonggi Raises Funds to Help Farms Affected by African Swine Fever (191104-4) In cooperation with the Korean Red Cross, Gyeonggi Province launched a fundraising initiative to help livestock farms affected by African Swine Fever. Individuals or organizations wishing to participate may do so by making donations to a Red Cross bank account by November 23. With a total donation goal of KRW 1 billion, the collected funds will be used to provide affected farms with customized support through the related utive committee. .   4. Gyeonggi Wins Top Honors at Korean National Skills Competition (191105-5) Gyeonggi Province won top honors at the 54th Korean National Skills Competition held in Busan this past October. On November 4, after winning 8 gold, 10 silver and 17 bronze medals to become the overall event winner, the 153 members of the Gyeonggi team were disbanded at a ceremony held at Island Castle in Uijeongbu City. During the ceremony, Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Lee Hwa-soon asserted that the province will endeavor to identity and cultivate skilled individuals.   5. Gyeonggi Uncovers More Smuggled Meat Products (191106-2) The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police recently discovered that, while the province suffers from the effects of African Swine Fever, meat products have been smuggled past quarantine and distributed locally. Some of the smuggled products were found to have originated from China, another region affected by African Swine Fever. ► Food Shop, Ansan City In a food shop in Ansan (안산) City, a large quantity of sausage products with foreign labels are discovered in a refrigerator. [Sync] “How did you get these?” / “They delivered these to us by car.” / “Koreans?” / “Foreigners.” When asked about their country of origin, the subject is unable to answer. [Sync] “I don’t know. I was told that these are attached as their labels…” This is how personally smuggled products are sold. ► Smuggled Foods Pose High Health Risks Smuggled products are sold at low prices since they are brought in without duty. They pose serious potential health risks since their sources are unknown. Despite continuous crackdowns on imported food shops during the African Swine Fever outbreak, such illegal activities have not diminished. ► 26 Smuggled Food Sellers Apprehended Out of 154 food shops inspected, smuggled items were found at 26. There were a large number of products from other regions affected by African Swine Fever including Russia and China. The apprehended shops included one that had been fined for the same offense this past May. ► Lee Byeong-woo, Superintendent, Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police “There are foreigners staying at pig farms. When they return to the farms carrying livestock products that were not subject to quarantine, they may also spread African Swine Fever.” Gyeonggi Province revealed that the farms in question are now being investigated by the police. Foreign food products without Korean labels are likely to be smuggled goods. Those who report such products are entitled to rewards based on related regulations.   6. 340th Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Regular Session Begins (1106-1) The 340th regular session of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly has begun a 46-day run that will include administrative audits and budget reviews. ► Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (November 5) 1st General Meeting of 340th Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Regular Session The 340th regular session began on November 5 and will end on December 20. ► Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Chairperson Song Han-jun “This is an important time when we look back over this year and prepare for next year.” ► Administrative Audits (November 11 – 24) The period from November 11 to 24 is allocated for administrative audits. All provincial offices and organizations will be audited. ► Review of Provincial Budgets Plans for 2020 This regular session will also see the review of the administration’s budget draft for next year which amounts to KRW 27.32 trillion, a 10.9 increase over this year’s budget. During the session, a total of 40 items including a number of ordinance drafts will also be reviewed. The first general meeting held on November 5 saw 5-minute speeches by assembly members who presented diverse proposals. ► Jin Yong-bok, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member (Democratic Party) “I hope that the removal of the limits on the number of personnel in public organizations, which was undertaken by the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly in good faith, will not be used for ill purposes. Instead, I strongly urge that it be implemented autonomously for the sake of management rationalization and efficiency.” ► Bae Su-mun, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member (Democratic Party) “There is an urgent need for the preparation of measures for housing stability and psychological and social stability as well as for housing welfare improvement for children who are living in poor conditions so as to enable them to live in healthy and safe environments without discrimination.” This session of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly also includes administrative inquiries on November 6 and 7.   7. Administrative Inquiries by Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (1107-1) The 340th regular session of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly saw administrative inquiries by assembly members during its second general meeting. Inquiries included questions regarding farmer basic income. ► Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (November 6) 2nd General Meeting of 340th Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Regular Session An assembly member asked about the introduction timeframe for farmer basic income as an expansion of the youth basic income that has already been introduced by Gyeonggi Province. ► Yu Gwang-wuk, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member (Democratic Party) “Farmer basic income must also be introduced in Gyeonggi Province so as to help the revival of farmers, the agricultural industry and the rural economy. Please tell us when you will introduce farmer basic income in specific terms.” Referring to other autonomous bodies that provide farmer basic income per household, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung (이재명) answered that the province will introduce it per person by the second half of next year. ► Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung “If possible, I plan to introduce it by the second half of next year through a revised supplementary budget.” There was also a question about the role of Gyeonggi Province in Phase 3 New Town development. ► Lee Pil-geun, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member (Democratic Party) “Since most Phase 3 New Towns are in Gyeonggi Province, significant resistance is expected among residents. What is your perspective?” ► Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung “We have thoroughly discussed Phase 3 New Town development with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation and voiced our needs. I believe those issues regarding infrastructure, industrial complexes and job creation have improved significantly.” Inquiries also included general administrative issues. The administrative inquiry session was followed by diverse proposals on administrative matters presented by assembly members during their 5-minute addresses. ► Kim Myeong-won, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member (Democratic Party) “I urge the administration to establish a provincial construction technical school to foster pertinent, skilled construction specialists with on-site capabilities and to connect them to jobs.” ► Lim Chang-ryeol, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member (Democratic Party) “I ask the administration to place personal fire protection equipment such as towels, oxygen canisters and mini gas masks, at least, at multi-user facilities including public facilities, hospitals and schools.” Administrative inquiries by Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly members ended on November 7. Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV. We look forward to seeing you again next week.