언론협력담당관 gnewstv@naver.com
2020.04.10
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 to Expand Export Credit Insurance Support for COVID-19-affected SMEs (0331-2)
Gyeonggi Province plans to increase its export credit insurance support for SMEs so as to help those enterprises whose exports are plummeting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The province will increase the maximum amount of support from the current KRW 1.2 million to KRW 2 million per enterprise and has prepared an emergency revised supplementary budget of KRW 1.35 billion for this purpose.
Any SME whose main office or factory is situated in the province and with exports of less than USD 20 million last year, or an export group with exports of less than USD 30 million last year, is eligible for support.
Support will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis until the funds are exhausted.
Detailed information can be obtained from the Southern Gyeonggi Branch of the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation.
2. Gyeonggi to Provide Floriculture Farms with Material Purchase Cost Support (0331-3)
Gyeonggi Province plans to help floriculturists whose farms are being affected by the COVID-19 outbreak with material purchase cost support.
Those farmers that reside and grow flowers in the province and whose farms are registered as agricultural businesses may apply for support. Applications will be received until the middle of April.
Up to KRW 2 million in support will be provided to 2,285 farms for individual purchases of materials including seedbeds and bedding soil.
The province will distribute the support funds to local governments from April for payments to farmers that begin in May.
3. Preferential Payment Conditions in Non-tax Levies for COVID-19 Victims (0327-3)
In Gyeonggi Province, those who suffered direct or indirect damage due to COVID-19 will be allowed preferential payment conditions in non-tax levies such as the extension of due dates and the mitigation of collection measures.
The non-tax levies include fines, penalties and enforcement charges.
Subjects of support include confirmed COVID-19 carriers and quarantined individuals as well as those who suffered business damage due to visits by COVID-19 carriers.
For those who are the subjects of property seizure for tax delinquency, the province will defer the action and notify them accordingly.
4. Gyeonggi Intercity Bus Services Improve (0327-2)
This month, thanks to Gyeonggi Province’s semipublic bus management system, intercity buses began running on 16 new routes through areas that had been regarded as unprofitable and therefore shunned by bus operators.
►Bus Stop in Uijeongbu City (March 25)
With expanded bus operation, transportation inconveniences experienced by residents in these areas have been significantly reduced.
►Mok Chang-hun, Pocheon City Resident
“First of all, bus intervals have been reduced. Also, with an additional bus route running through this area, I can now travel comfortably seated. When there were only number 1300 buses here, I often had to travel standing.”
►Cleaner Air and Free Wi-Fi
Related services also improved including the provision of cleaner air and free Wi-Fi.
►Drivers Receive Courteous Service Training
All drivers on this route received courteous service training.
►An Min-yeong, Uijeongbu City Resident
“I took this bus for the first time today. During the journey, the driver kindly advised me to catch the bus at about this time to reach my destination on time. That helped me start the day with a good feeling.”
►Semipublic Bus Management System with Bid-based Route Allocation
Such changes stem from the introduction of a semipublic bus management system through which routes are allocated to bus operators based on bids.
Selected bus operators are granted licenses to operate on the routes for a period of 5 to 9 years while the province guarantees compensation for any operational deficits.
This system enables intercity bus operation in areas that were previously shunned by bus operators.
►Lee Yong-ju, Director, Gyeonggi Province Public Bus Division
“Putting public interests first, Gyeonggi Province’s semipublic bus management system will provide appreciable services for residents. The province will continue to identify and expand intercity bus routes needed by residents.”
As trial cases of bid-based route allocation, Gyeonggi Province will operate 120 buses on these 16 new routes, including 4 previously discontinued routes in isolated or new residential districts.
5. Airport Buses Exclusively for Incoming Gyeonggi Residents Begin Operation (20200331)
Gyeonggi Province recently began the operation of airport buses exclusively for Gyeonggi residents arriving from abroad. Geared to intercept a possible influx of COVID-19 carriers from overseas, these buses transport users to their individual home towns, where they are then picked up by public vehicles for the final leg of their journey to their homes.
►Incheon International Airport (March 30)
In Incheon International Airport, a group of arriving passengers check in for airport buses at a new airport bus passenger lounge.
Unlike passengers on other airport bus routes, they are greeted by drivers in protective clothing who drive the buses nonstop to newly designated regional transfer points.
At these locations, local public office vehicles wait to transport the passengers to their individual residences.
►User of Airport Bus for Arriving Passengers (Voice modulated)
“What is important is that these buses enable us to travel without contacting any member of the general public. I was genuinely worried about how to travel from the airport, whether I should take a taxi or even walk. It was a relief to hear that I would be provided with transportation home even though I had to bear the costs…”
►Gyeonggi Begin Operation of Airport Buses Exclusively for Residents Arriving from Abroad
These airport buses are exclusively for Gyeonggi residents who arrive at Incheon International Airport from abroad.
►Available to All Gyeonggi Residents Returning from Abroad
Launched on March 28 initially for Gyeonggi residents arriving from the United States and Europe, these services were expanded to cover all arriving residents regardless of their departure points.
►Lim Seung-gwan, Chief of Gyeonggi COVID-19 Emergency Response Team
“We will operate 10 airport bus routes from Incheon International Airport to 15 regional transfer points in the province. From there, users will be transported to their individual homes via 85 public office vehicles and call vans.”
This program includes 21 buses on 10 routes.
►Prevention of Personal Contact on Public Transportation
This program is expected to minimize secondary infection through the avoidance of personal contact on public transportation while facilitating the tracking of residents who arrive from abroad.
►Gyeonggi Province Airport Bus Operation Center (☏031-8030-3782~5)
These buses run a total of 55 times daily from Incheon International Airport to 15 transfer points in the province. Detailed information can be obtained by calling the Gyeonggi Province Airport Bus Operation Center or related local offices.
6. Gyeonggi to Begin Disaster-related Basic Income Payments from April 9 (0401-1)
From April 9, Gyeonggi Province Disaster-related Basic Income will be paid to provincial residents to help them overcome the COVID-19 crisis. As explained by Governor Lee Jae-myung (이재명), the payments will be made in the form of Gyeonggi local currency or through credit card balances.
►Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (April 1)
Press Conference on Gyeonggi Province Disaster-related Basic Income Payment
Payments will be made immediately upon receipt of application.
►KRW 100,000 to Be Paid to All Gyeonggi Residents
All residents with registered addresses in Gyeonggi Province, regardless of their age or income level, are eligible to receive a payment of KRW 100,000 usable at affiliated businesses where local currency is accepted.
►Usable at Affiliated Businesses with Annual Sales Below KRW 1 billion
Affiliated businesses include those with annual sales of less than KRW 1 billion and excludes department stores, large supermarkets and entertainment businesses.
►Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung
“I ask you to understand that department stores, large supermarkets, entertainment businesses, and any businesses outside the designated region are excluded because the objective of this policy is to help revive the local economy, backstreet commerce and small businesses.”
►Paid with Local Currency or toward Credit Card Balance
The payment can be received either in the form of local currency or toward a credit card balance.
►Online Registration of Credit Cards Required Before Use
Credit cards may be used by registering the card with the Gyeonggi Disaster-related Basic Income website during the period from April 9 to 30. The balance of the basic income will be deducted when the card is used at affiliated shops.
►Collaboration of Gyeonggi Province, Local Governments, Banks and Credit Card Companies
For the implementation of disaster-related basic income payments, Gyeonggi Province has secured the collaboration of local governments, banks and credit card companies.
►Payment with Prepaid Cards from April 20
Prepaid cards can also be used when applications are made in person at local administration and welfare offices or NH Bank branches during the period from April 20 to July 31.
►Effective Period Expires after 3 Months from Payment Date
The Gyeonggi Disaster-related Basic Income must be used within 3 months of the payment date and can be pooled with other support payments.
►Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung
“Each and every resident of the province is an active part of economic quarantine. I ask you to participate in overcoming the current crisis by using the disaster basic income within the effective dates.”
7. Gyeonggi Reduces Provincial Organization Facility Rents (0403)
In Korea, a ‘kind landlord movement’ is spreading among landlords who reduce rents so as to share the difficulties experienced by their tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gyeonggi Province is joining this movement by reducing provincial facility rents for SMEs and small businesses.
►KINTEX Center, Goyang City (April 1)
Business at this restaurant at KINTEX Center has plummeted after the COVID-19 outbreak.
►Kim Min-seon, Proprietor of Restaurant at KINTEX
“Compared to the same period last year, sales have decreased by 93 percent. The number of customers has been reduced to 10 percent. We are in a dire situation.”
►GTV Reporter Kim Tae-hui (anchorkim713@gg.go.kr)
“At this time of year, KINTEX is usually crowded with visitors. However, few people can be seen here since all events have been cancelled due to COVID-19. Gyeonggi Province has decided to reduce provincial facility rents for SMEs and small businesses that are experiencing difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
►Management Fees for 32 Restaurants and Cafés in KINTEX Reduced from February to April
KINTEX has reduced management fees for 32 resident businesses from February to April.
►Gyeonggi Tourism Organization Reduces Rents for Resident Businesses at Imjingak, Paju City
The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization has also reduced rents to half for a three-month period for restaurants and souvenir shops at Imjingak (임진각) in Paju (파주) City so as to help these small businesses withstand the COVID-19 crisis.
►Cheon Se-bong, Proprietor of Restaurant in Imjingak
“I was informed that rent will be reduced by 50 percent for three months from March. That will be helpful for operation to some extent.”
The Gyeonggi Urban Innovation Corporation and the Gyeonggi Ceramic Foundation have also reduced rents by 30 percent and 35 percent, respectively, for resident businesses.
►Yun Yeong-gil, Deputy Director, Gyeonggi Province Public Organization Support Team
“We will also pursue rent reduction for tenants at provincially owned properties. We hope that participation in the ‘kind landlord movement’ by the public sector will help small businesses and SMEs overcome current hardships.”
Gyeonggi Province will also reduce rents for facilities at other provincial organizations including the Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation and the Gyeonggi Business and Science Accelerator.
Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV.
We look forward to seeing you again next week.