언론협력담당관 gnewstv@naver.com
2015.10.08
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.
Article 1. Gyeonggi Province Seizes Tax Delinquents’ Luxury Items (1001)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Since this past January, Gyeonggi Province has conducted searches at the homes of tax delinquents and seized a number of valuable articles including luxury items. For the first time in Korea, these items will be liquidated through public sale this month.
[Report]
A tax arrears recovery team searches the home of an individual who failed to pay local taxes of more than KRW 150 million; it finds a large quantity of jewelry and luxury items.
▶ “You have leased a Mercedes while leaving taxes in arrears?”
“I don’t know.”
Records showed that this individual has continued to spend lavishly while refusing to pay taxes.
▶ Homes of 45 Tax Delinquents Searched
During the first half of this year, this team has visited the homes of forty-five individuals who, although financially capable, have intentionally dodged taxes. Except for those who cleared their defaults or promised to pay in installments, twenty-six were dealt with via home searches through which many items were seized.
▶ Park Ho-seong / Appraisal Specialist
“Among the items seized, 227 were found to be authentic and valued to be more than KRW 70 million in total.”
▶ 227 Authentic Luxury Brand Items to be Liquidated through Public Sale
These items, including bags, watches and jewelry, will be sold to the public at Seongnam (성남) City Hall on October 7 at prices 5 percent lower than wholesale. Gyeonggi Province plans to hold such public sales twice a year.
▶ Kim Jong-geun / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Tax Arrears Recovery Team
“We targeted those who intentionally neglect payment even when they are capable. We will continue to use this method so as to ensure fairness in tax collection.”
Last year, Gyeonggi Province filed liens on stocks owned by 4,600 delinquents and has recovered taxes of KRW 9.2 billion to date.
Article 2. Gyeonggi Delegation Returns from 8-Day European Mission (0930-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
A Gyeonggi Province delegation returned from its 8-day European mission on October 1. Our reporter summarized its achievements.
[Report]
The first destination of the delegation was a semiconductor giant in the Netherlands.
▶ ASMI Agrees to Invest USD 50 Million
On September 25, Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil met with ASMI Chairman Charles del Prado at the company’s headquarters and agreed on the relocation of ASMI’s production and R&D facilities to Dongtan (동탄) New Town of Gyeonggi Province. This relocation will create 56 jobs in the area.
▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“Core technologies (of ASMI) were developed and transferred by KAIST. Gyeonggi Province will now become the seat of their plant.”
▶ Meeting with Welfare Minister of Iceland
During its visit to Iceland, the Gyeonggi delegation benchmarked gender equality policies.
▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“The expansion of participation by women in the economy is essential for a virtuous economic circle.”
The Icelandic Welfare Minister explained the nation’s compulsory 40 percent employment policy for women. Governor Nam expressed his intent to develop practical gender equality policies.
▶ Visits to Business Startup Support Organizations
Governor Nam also visited business startup support organizations in both the Netherlands and Iceland, and proposed exchanges with Gyeonggi Province as well as the establishment of a global network for that purpose. At a Dutch organization, he introduced the soon-to-be-established business startup academy at Pangyo (판교) that will inspire creativity and innovation. At the innovation center in Iceland, he shared views on business startup promotion.
▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“Pangyo will be developed into a global business startup hub”
For the proposed global network, Governor Nam suggested the inclusion of the Creative Economy Innovation Center in Pangyo (판교) and the Business Startup Academy, which is slated to open in February next year, as well as organizations in other countries such as the US, China and Singapore.
Article 3. Gyeonggi’s Revised Supplementary Budget Plan Passes Council
[Anchor’s Headline]
On September 23, Gyeonggi Province’s revised supplementary budget plan, amounting to KRW 21 trillion, was passed by the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly.
[Report]
▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (September 23)
The 4th General Meeting of the 302nd Extraordinary Session
This was the second revised supplementary budget placed before the assembly this year.
▶ Second Supplementary Budget Amount: KRW 21,345 Billion
The supplementary budget plan was voted upon by the provincial assembly without major adjustments apart from the reduction of labor costs for the Pet Theme Park development project in Yeoju (여주) City. Labor costs for the Sports Valley Project in Gwangju (광주) City, a disputed issue, were approved as is. More than seventy other items also received assembly approval during the session.
▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Chairman Gang Deuk-gu
“In accordance with Article 7 of Assembly Procedures, I am bringing in seven drafts en bloc including the proposal for…”
The establishment of a trauma center at the Ajou (아주) University Medical Center is one of the projects passed; it is gaining momentum for implementation
▶ Kim Ui-beom / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member
“The assembly approved the Gyeonggi Province Trauma Center Project so as to help expedite its establishment and operations on the condition that particulars pertaining to rights, responsibilities and management be discussed in more detail.”
Among other proposed provincial plans that passed the assembly on the same day was monthly living expense support of KRW 700,000 for former Japanese sex slaves.
The next extraordinary session of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly is slated to open on October 6 for a 10-day run.
Article 4. Gyeonggi to Increase Employment Service Buses
[Anchor’s Headline]
The employment service bus of Gyeonggi Province is a representative on-site administrative service program. This bus has been providing employment consultation and placement services to job searchers in remote areas.
[Report]
The employment service bus has been in operation for four years.
▶ Users Include Varied Age Groups
The bus is staffed by employment specialists as well as manpower personnel from recruiting enterprises for on-site interviews. It has visited every remote area in Gyeonggi Province and served a daily average of thirty youths and seniors as well as women returning to the workforce and other socioeconomic minorities.
▶ Lee Seo-young / Job Searcher
“Since I put in my job application, I have actually received a few calls to arrange interviews.”
▶ Employment Success Rate 43%
Since 2012, this bus has successfully found employment for more than 6,000 individuals.
[CG-Overlap] The number of individuals who found employment through this service has increased significantly each year from 680 in 2012 to 2,300 last year.
▶ Jeong Seong-chan / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Public Employment Team
“We search for enterprises recruiting personnel in advance and match them with applicants based on requirements…”
▶ Gyeonggi to Add One Employment Service Bus Next Year
With the success of the employment service bus, Gyeonggi Province plans to add another bus and personnel for separate operations in northern and southern regions.
▶ More Destinations and Programs
Operations will also be expanded to include traditional markets and festival sites while more diverse employment support programs will be introduced.
Through the regional division of service areas, more individuals are expected to benefit from the on-site employment services of these buses.
Article 5. 2nd ‘Next Gyeonggi Creative Audition’ Begins
[Anchor’s Headline]
Following last year’s Next Gyeonggi Creative Audition, in which local administrations of Gyeonggi Province vied in audition format for a share of KRW 40 billion in regional project support, the second occasion began with a preliminary competition on September 30.
[Report]
▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Human Resource Development Institute (September 30)
Preliminary Contest, Next Gyeonggi Creative Audition 2
The venue for the preliminary competition is marked by a heated atmosphere and contestants who are more enthusiastic in their presentation efforts than last year.
▶ Majors and Vice Mayors at Forefront
Mayors and vice mayors are at the forefront of the competition for part of KRW 40 billion in provincial support for their projects.
▶ Icheon City Mayor Cho Byeong-don
“We must have a horse zoo so as to create a special equestrian industry zone. We are participating in this with determination as if it is the last chance.”
▶ Cultural Tourism & Job Creation Projects Lead Competitions
Of fifty-one projects that qualified for the preliminary competition after screening in on-site reviews, nearly half are in cultural tourism and job creation categories.
▶ Audition-based Competition Inspires Creative Thinking in Project Formation
The audition-based selection of local projects for provincial support has helped administrators break from conventional repetitive administrative practices and, instead, inspired creative thinking in resident-orientated project formation.
▶ Kang Hui-jin / Director, Gyeonggi Province Budget Division
“Officials are inspired to work harder in finding projects since they know that they will be given a chance to realize their own ideas if they win.”
Selections are based on thorough reviews and feasibility analyses by specialists.
[CG] A total of eight projects made it to the finals including the Image Creation Town project of Goyang (고양) City, the G-Senior Happiness-Up Center project of Gunpo (군포) City, and the City of Theatric Arts project of Gapyeong (가평) County.
▶ Final Contest Slated for October 7
The contest finals, through which the winners of provincial support will be selected, are scheduled to take place at the Creative Economy Innovation Center in Pangyo (판교) Techno Valley.
Article 6. Rice Beer Developed in Gyeonggi Province
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services, or GARES, recently announced the development of rice beer-brewing technology that uses a traditional Korean brewing method with locally produced rice instead of imported raw materials.
[Report]
▶ Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services
Unlike ordinary beer, this beer is made from rice and has the intrinsic nutty and biting tastes of local rice brews.
▶ [PiP] Lee Dae-hyeong / Agricultural Researcher, GARES
“While ordinary beer has a characteristic malted grain taste, the beer brewed with rice tastes lighter.”
The fermentation method used in rice beer brewing combines those of the beer-making process and those of traditional rice drinks. Barley and hops are used only as additional ingredients to create aroma and foam. This institute has transferred the rice beer techniques to a brewing enterprise for commercial applications.
▶ Lim Jae-wuk / Director, GARES
“We developed rice beer so as to promote the consumption of Gyeonggi rice as well as rice and beer markets.”
GARES has previously developed rice bread-baking and honey wine-brewing technologies and transferred them to private enterprises. Such endeavors are now helping both the farmers and enterprises involved increase their income levels. The institute will continue to develop new agricultural product processing technologies so as to aid farmers and enterprises in the province by creating new business opportunities.
Article 7. Gyeonggi’s Gubernatorial Residence Reborn as Tourist Destination
[Anchor’s Headline]
Since early this year, the gubernatorial residence of Gyeonggi Province has been undergoing major renovations for its transformation into a tourist destination complete with a café and guest house. Our reporter was there to view the progress of work that is already half completed.
[Report]
▶ Renovation of Gyeonggi Province Governor’s Residence
[Images from Archive]
This quiet residence, surrounded by pines, was the official living quarters of Gyeonggi Province governors. Since its establishment in 1967, this residence has served twenty-four governors. Originally constructed as a gubernatorial residence, this modern property is now being remodeled as a place for public recreation as well as for cultural and artistic activities.
▶ Kim Dong-seok / Construction Site Manager
“To date, work has progressed 48 percent at the residential building and 55 percent at the annexed building in which the café is being constructed. The overall scene will emerge at the end of this month.”
▶ Tourist Accommodation, Gallery & Banquet Hall
The residential building will be used as a guest house with four rooms and one suite. This building will also house a display room for photographs and paraphernalia from former governors. The building across the garden will feature a cafeteria and a hall for events such as small concerts, theatrical productions and art exhibitions. The garden lawn will be utilized for outdoor parties and weddings and will include a romantic promenade.
▶ Kang Sin-ho / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Government Building Management Team
“Visitors will be able to see the history of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government through the paraphernalia and records of former governors and…”
▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Residence Management & Operation Ordinance
Gyeonggi Province has already made a preliminary announcement of related legislation in the form of an ordinance that will enable the utilization of the gubernatorial residence as accommodation and tourism facilities for the public. This ordinance will be deliberated by the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly during its upcoming 10-day extraordinary session this month. Subsequently, detailed remodeling work will begin for completion in January, when the site will be opened to the public.
Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV.
We look forward to seeing you again next week.