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. Pocheon to Host Textile & Furniture Industry Complex (191014-2) After being announced as a public project in 2014, the Gomorie (고모리에) Design Cluster development project of Pocheon (포천) City was suspended due to economic uncertainties. However, this project can now proceed thanks to an investment commitment made by a private enterprise. ► Gomo-ri, Pocheon City This textile and furniture industry complex faced continued development delays after receiving negative feasibility study results this past April. That was until the largest furniture enterprise in Korea, Hanssem (한샘), agreed to participate as a sole investor. ► Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (October 14) Signing of Gomorie Design Cluster Development Cooperation Agreement With the addition of a private investor, Gyeonggi Province and Pocheon City are able to proceed with the development of this complex as a joint public and private project. An agreement was signed on October 14 to this effect. ► Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung “I ask all the parties to proceed with necessary procedures simultaneously instead of sequentially so as to complete development as soon as possible. The province will assist you so as to enable the early commencement of actual factory operations.” ► Pocheon City Mayor Park Yun-guk “I am certain that this will be a new concept in industrial complexes, one that encompasses not only the furniture industry but also the textile and design industry.” Project implementation will be undertaken by a corporation established jointly by Pocheon City and Hanssem (한샘). ► Lee Young-shik, President, Hanssem Co. “… to enable it to become not simply an industrial complex but a mecca for furniture design showrooms in which consumers and producers communicate with each other and create new values together…” ► Spaces Included for Creation and Experience In addition to production and distribution facilities, this complex will include spaces that can be used by furniture showroom visitors for their own creations and experiences. Hanssem (한샘) expects that this project will create more than 2,600 new jobs and induce KRW 190 billion in related production. The complex is also expected to boost the local economy through cooperation with local furniture enterprises and the employment of area residents. Groundbreaking is slated for October of 2021 after the completion of approval processes.   2. Early Dementia Diagnosis Program Wins Top Award in Gyeonggi Policy Market (1014-1) Among five finalists in a local administration policy contest held by Gyeonggi Province, titled ‘Policy Market’, Goyang (고양) City’s ‘Working with Local Clinics for Early Dementia Diagnosis’ program won the top award. ► Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (October 14) Gyeonggi Policy Market Finals Held this past September, contest preliminaries saw fierce competition among 31 local policies. The five finalists were: the ‘Working with Local Clinics for Early Dementia Diagnosis’ program of Goyang (고양) City; the ‘KRW 100 Happy Taxi for Pregnant Women’ program and the ‘50 Percent College Tuition Support’ program of Ansan (안산) City; the disabled and infant caretakers education program of Namyangju (남양주) City; and the comprehensive lifecycle service platform ‘On Dream’ program of Icheon (이천) City. During the finals, presenters did their utmost to sell their policies and answered penetrating questions asked by a judging panel consisting of specialists. ► ‘Working with Local Clinics for Early Dementia Diagnosis’ Program of Goyang City Through online votes and onsite assessment, the top award went to Goyang City, while the second- and third-place awards went to Icheon City and Namyangju City, respectively. ► Lee Si-yeon, Ilsan Seo-gu Public Health Center Official, Goyang City “Our program is geared to help dementia patients receive treatment while living at home without having to move to nursing homes. We will carefully attend to this program to make it work.” ► Policy Sales between Gyeonggi Province and Local Governments After the contest, Gyeonggi Province bought superior local policies while selling its own policies. Those sold to local governments include pet insurance support, summer energy welfare support, and conservation programs for rivers and valleys. ► Gyeonggi to Provide Local Government with 50% Subsidies for Purchased Policies Local governments that purchase provincial policies will be provided with 50 percent subsidies for program operation. ► Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung “The idea is to promote diverse and characteristic local administration practices instead of uniform ones. I hope that, through policy competition among local governments, tax payer money will be used more efficiently where it is needed in each locality.” Through the Policy Market, Gyeonggi Province will promote the expansion of superior policies throughout the province.   3. ‘Working with Local Clinics for Early Dementia Diagnosis’ Program (1015-1) After the Gyeonggi Policy Market, an administrative policy contest held among local governments of Gyeonggi Province, the provincial administration decided to purchase three local policies. GTV examined Goyang (고양) City’s ‘Working with Local Clinics for Early Dementia Diagnosis’ program, the first-place winner of the contest. ► Dementia Ansim Center, Ilsan Seo-gu Public Health Center, Goyang City Concerned about her increasing forgetfulness, Kim (김효순) visits the Dementia Ansim (안심) Center for screening tests. [Sync] “What season is it now, love?” / “Fall.” She is greatly relieved after the results of a memory test and interview indicate no issues. ► Kim Hyo-sun (Aged 82), Goyang City Resident “It is good to receive regular results. It will be wonderful to be able to prevent dementia with medication if diagnosed early.” ► Goyang City Launches First Dementia Test Support Program in Korea For the first time in Korea, Goyang City is providing residents with dementia test support in collaboration with local clinics. ► Dementia Tests Provided Free of Charge to Residents Aged 70+ Any resident of Goyang (고양) City over 70 years of age can benefit from this program, which enables them to take dementia tests at local private clinics once a year free of charge. With 120 participating clinics, this program improves early dementia diagnosis rates and reduces individual suffering as well as the social costs of dementia. ► Goyang City’s Dementia Test Support Program Wins Top Award in Local Policy Contest This program recently received the top award in a local government policy contest titled Policy Market, which was organized by Gyeonggi Province for the exchange of exemplary policies between the province and local governments. ► Lifecycle Administrative Service Platform The comprehensive lifecycle service platform ‘On Dream’ program of Icheon (이천) City took second place. This program provides a complete list of administrative services available to residents throughout their lives. ► Disabled and Infant Caretaker Education Program Namyangju (남양주) City’s disabled and infant caretaker education program took third place for its potential to address the shortage of teachers for the disabled and infants. Gyeonggi Province will promote these three local government programs throughout the province after demand surveys and budget preparation.   4. 339th Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Extraordinary Session Begins (191015-2) On October 15, the 339th Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly extraordinary session began its 8-day run. Drawing particular attention among the items to be reviewed during the session are those pertaining to Japanese restrictions on exports to Korea, including a number of ordinance drafts. ► Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (October 15) Opening of 339th Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Extraordinary Session During this extraordinary session, a total of 77 items will be reviewed. ► Responses to Japanese Trade Restriction There are four items designed as responses to Japanese trade restrictions including an ordinance draft restricting public offices from purchasing products made by Japanese enterprises involved in war crimes, as well as a resolution for related special committee establishment. The provincial administration has already had its Japanese trade restriction response budgets passed by the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly. ► ‘Gyeonggi Happy Housing’ Plan with New Sale-on-Completion System Other session items include: the ‘Gyeonggi Happy Housing’ plan with a new sale-on-completion system; an ordinance draft to safeguard children from second-hand smoke; and a proposal for alternative landfill development. The first general meeting of the session included 5-minute speeches by Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly members. ► Lee Ae-yeong, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member, Liberty Korea Party “Local community-based health and medical welfare services are necessary. I ask you to study the organizations, personnel and budgets necessary for the provision of comprehensive services within each local community including quality treatment, medicine control and patient care services.” ► Jang Dae-seok, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member, Democratic Party “I ask you to begin a commissioned study on electromagnetic wave hazards near power-line towers. This study should look into the effects of such electromagnetic waves on the health of residents who live at different distances from power-line towers for different periods of time.” The 339th extraordinary session of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly will end on October 22 with the second general meeting.   5. Two Traditional Markets Designated as Gyeonggi Commercial Promotion Zones (191016-3) Gyeonggi Province designated Yangsuri (양수리) Market in Yangpyeong (양평) City and Moran (모란) Market in Seongnam (성남) City as this year’s Gyeonggi Commercial Promotion Zones. As pledged by the current provincial administration, Gyeonggi Commercial Promotion Zone designation aims to promote traditional markets and adjacent commercial areas as combined zones. Designated zones will receive support of up to KRW 4 billion in addition to facility and environment improvement support and marketing and special program assistance. Moran (모란) Market will receive support for the establishment of experiential spaces for special commodities, while Yangsuri (양수리) Market will receive support for commercial promotion in connection with nearby tourism resources.   6. Gyeonggi’s ‘Doctor Helicopter’ Saves a Life Every 2.3 Days (1017-1) Since being introduced for the first time in Korea, the emergency ‘Doctor Helicopter’ service of Gyeonggi Province has been saving a life every 2.3 days on average. ► Doctor Helicopter in Action, Pyeongtaek City (September 4) On September 4 at a construction site in Pyeongtaek (평택) City, a large concrete block fell on a worker, injuring his neck and hip. With his airway almost blocked and his life at risk, the Doctor Helicopter was mobilized to transport him to a university hospital. [Sync] “How do you feel now?” During the flight, he received emergency medical care. His life was saved since he arrived at the hospital within 15 minutes of the accidents thanks to the Doctor Helicopter. The first service of its kind in Korea, Doctor Helicopter operates 24/7 exclusively for medical emergencies. ► Mobilized 19 Times during 39 Days During its first 39 days of operation, from September 4 until October 12, Doctor Helicopter was mobilized 19 times and helped save 17 lives. Its flights included seven emergency transport missions between hospitals. ► 6 Night Missions, 1 Flight Out of Province The flights of Doctor Helicopter also included 6 night missions and as well as a flight to a neighboring province. ► 24/7 Operation throughout Gyeonggi Covering all of Gyeonggi Province, Doctor Helicopter operates around the clock. ► Landings on School Playgrounds and Athletic Fields The operational efficiency of Doctor Helicopter is also attributed to its clearance for landing on school playgrounds and athletic fields. ► Yun Deok-hui, Director, Gyeonggi Province Health and Medicine Policy Division “We will endeavor to improve medical helicopter services on a continuous basis through around-the-clock operation so as to save lives.” Gyeonggi Province will continue to secure more landing sites for the Doctor Helicopter so as to facilitate its emergency rescue operations.   7. Gyeonggi Secures National Subsidies of KRW 175.6 Billion for SOC Projects (1017-2) Gyeonggi Province has secured KRW 175.6 billion in national subsidies for its social overhead capital, or SOC, projects. These funds will be used in the establishment of 44 SOC facilities in 23 localities of the province. ► Pocheon General Social Welfare Center, Pocheon City (October 14) Despite his physical disabilities, Song (송기태) frequently visits a local welfare center. However, he faces difficulties since there are few facilities there for individuals with disabilities. ► Song Gi-tae, Pocheon City Resident with Disabilities “There are no facilities that those in wheelchairs can use here. Being unable to use the standard facilities, I had to travel to Uijeongbu or Seoul to receive rehabilitation treatment.” ► Planned Sports and Rehabilitation Center Site, Pocheon City Social overhead capital pertains to amenities for public convenience such as welfare, cultural and sports facilities. This site in Pocheon (포천) City was selected for one such SOC project, the establishment of a sports and rehabilitation center. A number of public libraries in the province will also receive improvement work such as reading room expansion in the Paju Central Library. ► Gyeonggi Secures National Subsidies of KRW 175.6 Billion for 2020 The national subsidies secured for 2020, the largest amount among the 17 second-tier autonomies of Korea, will be used in the establishment of 44 SOC facilities in 23 cities and counties of the province. ► Gyeonggi Establishes SOC Team Headed by Vice Governor This past January, Gyeonggi Province established an SOC team headed by Vice Governor Lee Hwa-soon to oversee project development. ► Jeong Sang-gyun, Assistant Governor, Gyeonggi Province Balanced Development and Planning Office “Gyeonggi Province will do its utmost to realize the selected SOC projects according to plan. We will also develop more projects like these so as to improve quality of life for residents.” Including these national subsidies and local budgets, Gyeonggi Province will invest a total of KRW 571.9 billion in SOC projects from next year. Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV. We look forward to seeing you again next week