Gyeonggi-do held '2010, the first DMZ regular forum' in Gyeonggi small and medium enterprise support center on 20th to review a long-term operation of DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) and its utilization policy and collect opinions from every field about the peace-eco park operation policies.

Experts from planning vision, culture & art and eco environment including Kim Moon Soo, the governor of Gyeonggi-do gathered to share opinions about how they could make the DMZ, which is highly welcomed as a space of security, peace and life, a competent space.

There was a presentation on the subject of 'DMZ peace eco park construction policy' to cultivate as a green growth base overcoming DMZ's history of division and pain, and then fevered discussion to actualize it was followed among forum committee members.

The team manager, Kim Hyun, of Gyeonggi tourism organization cited remarks from Edward Wilson who is a professor at Harvard that 'DMZ is comparable to the sum of Gettysburg national historical park and Yellow Stone national park in U.S', adding that "DMZ development should be proceeded under the common sense of 'peace park', 'Ecology' and ' sustainability' ".

Participants made a consented opinion on the necessity of sharing visions among interested parties and a small but executive business with the recognition that DMZ is one of the world's best transboundary protected area.

For more information, contact Gyeonggi tourism organization 259-6907.

Furnished with book & media materials about multi-cultures of 10 countries.

Hire married female immigrants … Story telling in foreign languages

Governor Kim Moon Soo says, "Library with Gyeonggi-do's will to embrace multi-cultured people".

UNESCO and International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) declared in 'Public library statement' of 1994 that "The public library service is equally offered to anyone regardless of age, sex, nationality, language and social position.", and Gyeonggi-do is faithfully performing this.

About 500 people including Kim Moon Soo, governor of Gyeonggi-do, Lee Seok Woo, city mayor of Namyangju-si, chairman of the city, city councillor, internal organizations and group leaders participated in the opening ceremony of multi-cultural library which was held in Pyeongnae library of Namyangju-si on 16th.

Pyeongnae library composed book collections in total 10 languages such as domestic books (30,414 books) and multi-cultural books (4,322 books), and people can use Chinese, Taiwanese, Philippine, Vietnamese and Mongolian channels in multi-culture media room.

Hwang Gyeong Soo, the chief librarian of Pyeongnae library revealed, " Pyeongnae library will exert library's social responsibilities to the fullest not only by offering service for increasing marriage immigrants and immigrant laborers, but also as a place for unity with domestic people and educational space".

According to Gyeonggi-do census, by this February, 267,544 out of 868,829 foreigners' enrollments, which is 30.8%, appeared to stay in Gyeonggi-do.

The province opened 'Ansan multi-cultural small library' for the first in the country in 2008 as a way for multi-cultured people to adapt themselves to Gyeonggi-do, and diverse multi-cultural programs such as 'Korean cultures in tales' form Gunpo Central Library and 'Library programs visiting multi-cultural communities' from Gwangju City Library are performed in the library.

In addition, library using guidelines are supported in 10 languages through the cyber multi-cultural library in Gyeonggi-do, and 2 library using education animations for immigrated children 'Journey to library with Sangsang-i' were produced in 10 languages and distributed in libraries and elementary schools within the province.

Kim Moon Soo, governor of Gyeonggi-do, mentioned this dat, " Gyeonggi-do owns 151 libraries of the biggest size in the country, and the fact that we made libraries for multi-cultural people as Pyeongnae library shows the Gyeonggi-do's will to embrace multi-cultural people rather than the significance of scale".

For more information, contact department of educational policy, Library policy manager 850-2631.

Heilongjiang economic representative group of Chinese government (Chief: Ju Jukryeo, female, 60) visited foreign investment enterprise supporting center and industrial complex only for Pyeongtaek Hyeongok foreign investment enterprises on April 7 (Wed).

Heilongjiang economic representative group composed of 21 Heilongjiang economics officials and national entrepreneurs including Ju Jukryeo, executive vice-president of commercial organization and Wang Libgun, chief of financial service authority visited Gyeonggi-do foreign investment enterprise support center to hear explanations about investment environment and foreign investment enterprise support policies in Gyeonggi-do, and looked around Hyeongok industrial complex only for foreign investment enterprises.

The economic representative group expressed high interest in that Gyeonggi-do operates foreign investment enterprise support center and closely support foreign investment enterprises in the spot of visit, and asked questions on several businesses of the center and its accomplishments.

Notably, the chief Ju Jukryeo stressed if Gyeonggi-do and Heilongjiang facilitate mutually complementary industrial investments through their cooperations, the effects will be synergized because close industrial coalition between Korea and China can complement each other economically and especially cooperations between the two countries are ceaselessly expanding in every field lately. Also, he explained about Chinese government's foreign investment promoting policies, showing a high expectation in the investment trade area.

Regarding this, a Gyeonggi-do official said, " In order to attract investments from China showing high interests in foreign investment recently, investment attraction activities for China are being strengthened. We are also planning to build cooperative relationship of investment attraction with each local government and economic development zones."

For more information, contact department of investment promotion 8008-2985

Suwon

From March 15^th to 21^st, a delegation of Mexico-US trade affairs representatives from Suwon Cityvisited Mexico to attend the opening ceremony for the Suwon Office in Toluca City Hall on the 16^th.

The Suwon Office, which is to be fully managed by the sisterhood city, will be offer services not only toSuwon City residents but also to business people.

The city has announced that the opening of the office was a meaningful achievement. Suwon expects to utilize the office as a multifunctional facility for visiting Suwon inhabitants and market development in the North American region.

Additionally, the above-mentioned delegation – including representatives of the high-efficiency LED development company Luminature, as well as Visionlight, Ajoo BNC, Iruda, and Wona Korea – achieved USD 5 million in export agreements and USD 16 million dollars in export inquiries.

A Suwon City official announced that procedures for visiting the sister city have been made considerably less complicated with a reduction from 5 steps (Suwon-KOTRA Gyeonggi branch-KOTRASeoul HQ-Local office-Agent) to 2 steps (Suwon-Sister city). Toluca City was very cooperative and supportive, providing transportation and conference rooms.

Source - http://eng.suwon.ne.kr

The local autonomous government and a local firm will initiate the development of talent in science and the arts among the children of low-income families.

Knowledge of science and the arts is known to be costly to develop. Therefore, those who are interested in studying these fields but suffering financial difficulties will be selected and fostered as the next Sarah Chang and Song Yu-keun.

Suwon City along with Samsung Electronics and the local Children’s Center Federation have signed an agreement to initiate the ‘Future Artists Project,’ which will support the children of low-income families in scientific and artistic education.

Children or elementary students of 5 to 7 years of age from low-income families are the beneficiaries of the project. Samsung Electronics has agreed to initially provide KRW 138 million and the local Children’s Center Federation will provide KRW 30 million in support for a total of KRW 168 million.

Those who wish to participate will have the opportunity to study science and music with professional instructors and volunteer graduate/doctorial degree staff from Samsung Electronics in 11 locations: 3 locations in Jangan-gu including the Pajang-dong Somang Children Center, 5 locations in Gwonseon-gu including the Seryu-dong Suwon Children’s Center Federation office, and 3 locations in Paldal-gu including the Uman-dong Uman Aiken Children Center.

Five music classes including flute, violin, piano, guitar and drum lessons will be held for beginner to advanced levels once a week for two hours each session.

Science classes will make use of science kits for various experiments tailored to the children’s levels, and will be held once a month for two hours on Saturday. Additionally, twice a year during vacations, science classes will have real-time experience opportunities.

Suwon City also plans to initiate instructor-support programs twice a year so as to increase the quality of education provided by the professional music instructors and volunteers from Samsung Electronics.

A Suwon City official commented that “those talented children will be fostered to become future art and science leaders through consistent management including additional instruction, and we will diversify the classes to attract more low-income bracket children with potential.”

The city official also announced a plan to operate children sports clubs including soccer and baseball clubs through the utilization of 44 local children centers in the Suwon region every Wednesday and Friday for two hours. A total of 14 instructors including Suwon Sports for All Association instructors, Gyeonggi University Physical Education volunteers and more are expected to participate.

Both world-renowned violinist Sarah Chang (30 years of age, Chang Young-joo in Korean) and Korea’s youngest doctorial degree student, Song Yoo-keun (13 years old) received education to develop their talents from their early youth.

The city provides the opportunity for foreign tourists to experience the culture of a hospitable Korean household within communities that possess international cultural heritage items, such as Suwon and Hwaseong. Through this opportunity, Suwon can improve the city’s name and foster the city’s international image as a city of volunteers.

Suwon is recruiting volunteer households for the program until the 13th. Those interested in volunteering must be able to communicate with foreigners and offer a separate room furnished with a bed.

You can apply by visiting Suwon’s volunteer center directly or by faxing 031-228-3273. You can download the application from the volunteer center’s website http://swvc.suwon.ne.kr or from Suwon City’s main website http://www.suwon.ne.kr.

The city plans to maintain this as an ongoing program and, for greater effectiveness, will endeavor to connect with international exchange organizations, home-stay centers and more. Also, selected home-stay volunteers will be acknowledged for their activities, have the opportunity to participate in global etiquette education, be issued gift certificates, and receive various other kinds of incentives.  

An official of the city said he expects Suwon will be transformed into a city that tourists want to visit repeatedly and asked for the wholehearted of support of citizens.

With February 28th as the starting date, the employment center has recorded the creation of 260 new jobs and, starting on March 2nd, 1,100 workers will be deployed to each region and location so that they can also participate in this project. The public labor project is now a priority and, with early financial supports already in effect, the goal for the first half of this year is to achieve 60% of the overall goal.

With the Employment Center starting work from February 26^th, the initiative is being advertised on electronic displays at Suwon City Hall and at four other district offices. It is also being advertised through media channels such as the Happy Suwon News, Happy Suwon Broadcasting Station and others. On February 16^th, Tbroad broadcasted the Suwon Mayor’s announcement on the establishment of Suwon’s Employment Center and the employment goals it has set for this year.

Also, by organizing a regional network, a managing council has been formed to create an employment network that will maximize new job opportunities with the cooperation of the public and private sectors. This managing council had their first official meeting on March 5^th in the 2^nd floor annex meeting room of Suwon City Hall.

Job creation is now the highest priority for Korea and, because of this, the Korean president himself personally supervises and opens at least one meeting a month concerning the nation’s strategies to create new jobs. At this meeting, the creation of 200,000 jobs is the main goal while short and long-term measures are also created for all fields.

Hyun Nak-Cheol - Suwon Fire Department’s Safety Team

On one day in March last year, with the weather so warm, I thought that spring was near, but suddenly received a report of an old man walking on the ice of a pond within Suwon City.

The old man had gone outside for some exercise early in the morning and was playing with a ball on the ice. He later said that, since it was dawn, he didn’t know how fragile the ice was.

He was extricated from the dangerous location with the help of a rescue team, but it was a very dangerous moment when he was literally on thin ice.

When spring comes, most ice usually melts, but sometimes there are children or others who think that it’s okay to play by a lakeside or on the remaining ice.

When I looked around, I saw that not all of the ice on the lakes had melted and that ice remained even though the weather had become warmer.

Even if the ice has not yet melted, that which remains can be very thin since most of it has already melted in the warm weather. Accordingly, most places where ice remains can break up easily if someone tries to walk over it, and I’m concerned about those who might mistakenly assume that, since it’s not on the deeper parts of the lake and that the ice is still very thick, it is okay to walk on the ice .

The temperature has risen and it’s getting warmer, but the water is still cold, and so some ice can still remain on a lake. However, if a person walks on the ice and falls through into the water, they might injure their heads or receive other injuries when falling through, and may even suffer hypothermia in to the cold water, which could be life threatening and an emergency.

There has been research that people who fall into water cannot survive for more than an hour if the water’s temperature is 4.5℃, and for less than 30 minutes when the water is 0℃. The weather is becoming warm, but it’s still quite cold during the morning and the evenings, and since the water temperature is also still very low, it is critical to call a rescue team as soon as possible if someone falls into the water since they might lose their life.

When you see someone has fallen into water, call 119 immediately and provide accurate directions to the location while trying to have the person in the water grab something that floats such as a plastic bottle or soccer ball. You shouldn’t go into the water to save that person since that is potentially more dangerous. Empty plastic bottles are very good since, if 1/3 full of water, they are not affected by the wind and can be thrown very close to the targeted location. It is possible for an adult to use one small 1.5 liter plastic bottle as a floatation device, which is important safety information that everyone should know.

Source - http://eng.suwon.ne.kr