2019 New Year: Changing Gyeonggi Province Administrative Systems and Policies

Starting next year, Gyeonggi local currency will be issued across all 31 cities and counties. The local currency will be used as a payment method for 'Youth Basic Income (Youth Dividend),' which provides 1 million won annually to youth aged 24 in Gyeonggi Province, and 'Postpartum Care Allowance,' which provides 500,000 won per mother. Uniforms will be provided in-kind to new middle school students in the province, and elementary school 4th graders will receive 40,000 won per student for dental checkup fees. The following introduces major administrative systems and policies changing in Gyeonggi Province from next year, organized into five provincial policy goals.

1. Gyeonggi Province Where Citizens Are the Owners (General Administration)

▲ Installation and Operation of Public Interest Reporting Hotline

A 'Public Interest Reporting Hotline Fair Gyeonggi 2580' has been installed on the Gyeonggi Province website to receive public interest reports, reports of public official corruption, and violations of civil service conduct codes. To protect the identity of whistleblowers, proxy reporting through lawyers is possible. The reward system for whistleblowers has been expanded, allowing compensation to be paid up to 30% of provincial financial revenue with no upper limit, and rewards to be granted up to 200 million won.

▲ Operation of Integrated Citizen Communication Center 'Voice of Gyeonggi-do (VOG)'

An integrated center will operate to directly listen to and communicate with citizens' voices in one place. Currently 15 separate centers will be consolidated into 'Voice of Gyeonggi-do (VOG)' from January next year, with service provision expected to make provincial administrative participation easier for residents.

▲ Extension of Gyeonggi Province Regional Development Bond Reduction and Exemption Until June 2019

The regional development bond reduction and exemption system will be extended six more months until the end of June next year. When purchasing vehicles with engine displacement of 2,000cc or less, regional development bonds do not need to be purchased. However, non-commercial passenger vehicles with acquisition value of 50 million won or higher are excluded from the reduction and exemption targets regardless of engine displacement.

▲ Full Implementation of Smart Tax Notice Service

Starting next year, applicants for smart tax notices will receive only smart notices without paper notices. Previously, smart notices lacked legal validity for electronic delivery, so both smart and paper notices were sent together. Recipients of smart tax notices can receive some tax credit benefits from electronic notice delivery.

2. Gyeonggi Province Where Basic Living Standards Are Guaranteed (Welfare, Health, Women, and Education)

▲ Youth Basic Income (Youth Dividend)

To improve youth welfare and revitalize the local economy, youth turning 24 in 2019 (who have registered as residents in Gyeonggi Province for three years or longer and continuously reside there) will receive youth basic income (youth dividend) of approximately 1 million won per person annually in local currency.

▲ National Pension Support for Gyeonggi Youth at First Enrollment

Youth turning 18 years old will receive support from Gyeonggi Province for initial national pension contribution fees of 90,000 won. This youth welfare project establishes a foundation for future planning through early national pension enrollment, with approximately 150,000 youth expected to benefit next year.

▲ Gyeonggi Province Postpartum Care Allowance Support

To ease the financial burden on families with newborns and create an environment conducive to childbirth, parents who have resided in the province for one year or longer based on the newborn's birth date will receive postpartum care allowance of 500,000 won starting in January. The postpartum care allowance is paid entirely in local currency and is independent of income level.

▲ Childcare Facility School Bus Safety Equipment Subsidy

For 6,180 school buses at 4,813 childcare facilities in Gyeonggi Province, 70,000 won per vehicle for child safety equipment (car seat) installation costs will be supported.

▲ Gyeonggi Province Elementary School Dental Home Doctor Program

Elementary school 4th graders, when permanent teeth are completed, will receive 40,000 won per student for dental checkup fees. Oral hygiene management education, proper eating habits, and fluoride application methods will also be supported.

▲ Gyeonggi Province Middle School Uniforms Support for Freshmen

Among middle school freshmen in the province, students entering schools where uniforms are worn will receive uniforms in-kind. The support amount is 300,000 won per student.

▲ Support for Out-of-School Youth Meal and Transportation Expenses

Youth visiting out-of-school youth support centers will receive meal support of 10,000 won per person per day starting in February. Support is provided in the form of restaurant meals and boxed lunches. Transportation support is also provided, with transportation cards charged with 30,000 won per person per month starting in February.

▲ Expansion of University Student Loan Interest Support

Support for loan interest on tuition and living expenses will be expanded from university students and unemployed individuals within two years of graduation to graduate students and unemployed individuals within two years of graduate school graduation.

▲ Increase in War Commemoration Honors Allowance

The war commemoration honors allowance paid to Korean War and Vietnam War veterans will be increased from 120,000 won annually to 150,000 won.

▲ Increase in Living Stability Support for Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Victims

Living stability support provided to victims of Japanese military sexual slavery will increase from 2 million won per month to 3 million won per month starting next year, an increase of 1 million won.

3. Gyeonggi Province: A Fair Economy Full of Innovation (Industry, Economy, Agriculture, Fishing, Livestock, and Forestry)

▲ Introduction of Gyeonggi Local Currency

Gyeonggi local currency will be issued across all 31 cities and counties to increase sales of small business owners and revitalize the local economy. Local currency is an alternative currency created to revitalize local commerce and can be used at local currency partner stores excluding large supermarkets, entertainment establishments, SSM (Super Supermarket), and stores with annual sales of 1 billion won or higher. Local currency will be used as a payment method for 'Youth Dividend,' providing 1 million won annually to youth aged 24 in Gyeonggi Province, and 'Postpartum Care Allowance,' providing 500,000 won per mother. Local currency, which will be fully introduced around March next year, will be issued in card, paper, or mobile formats as determined by each city and county. Local currency can be purchased with a discount rate of up to 6% at designated purchase locations and provides income tax deductions of up to 30%.

▲ Support for Small Business Owner Yellow Umbrella Mutual Aid Enrollment

Enrollment incentives for the Yellow Umbrella Mutual Aid system will be provided for small business owners in the province. Eligible recipients are small business owners with annual sales of 300 million won or less who enrolled in the Yellow Umbrella Mutual Aid Society after January 1, 2019. For every month of mutual aid premium payment over 12 months, 10,000 won will be supported, totaling 12 times. The Yellow Umbrella Mutual Aid system supports business owners who must cease operations due to death, illness, or injury by helping them prepare severance pay for living stability and business restart, with annual income tax deduction benefits of up to 5 million won.

▲ Establishment of Gyeonggi Province Labor Rights Center

The Gyeonggi Province Labor Rights Center will be newly established in February next year in an annex of the Gyeonggi North Provincial Office. Integrated services for labor rights protection can be obtained, including labor law consultation and rights remedies, labor rights education, and policy research.

▲ Operation of Dispute Resolution Committee in Franchise and Agency Fields

Dispute resolution work in the franchise and agency fields, previously handled by the Fair Trade Commission, will be transferred to Gyeonggi Province from January next year. Gyeonggi Province can verify facts related to unfair trade disputes and request related materials and attendance from relevant parties. The dispute resolution committee will consist of three public interest representatives and three representatives from franchise headquarters (suppliers) and franchise business owners (agencies, etc.). The committee's mediation record has the same effect as judicial settlement.

▲ Gyeonggi Province Children's Health Fruit Support Program

The 'Children's Health Fruit Supply Program,' first introduced nationwide by Gyeonggi Province this year, will expand its beneficiaries from 39,000 children at community children's centers and special care childcare facilities to 370,000 children at all childcare facilities in the province from next year. The children's health fruit supply program provides free fruit snacks to promote children's health.

▲ Support for Agricultural Disaster Insurance Enrollment

The proportion of local government funding for agricultural disaster insurance enrollment will be adjusted upward from the existing 30% to 40%. Accordingly, the proportion of insurance premium burden for farmers will decrease from 20% to 10%, with agricultural disaster insurance enrollment expected to increase.

4. Gyeonggi Province: Clean Environment, Convenient Transportation, a Place to Live (Environment, Urban Development, and Transportation)

▲ Maintenance Support for Small Business Air Pollution Prevention Facilities

Two hundred small-scale air emission business establishments (Classes 4 and 5) with installed air pollution prevention facilities but difficult maintenance will be selected, with 6 million won in management costs supported. For 60 facilities requiring repairs, up to 10 million won (with 20% self-contribution) in maintenance costs per facility will be supported. Currently, recruitment for selecting 200 facilities is underway.

▲ Introduction of Eco-Friendly Technology in Gyeonggi Province Public Buildings

Newly constructed public buildings initiated by Gyeonggi Province with a total floor area of 500 square meters or more must obtain green building certification and energy efficiency grade certification. Green building certification must be of excellent (Green Grade 2) or higher, and energy efficiency grade certification must be Grade 1 or higher. Additionally, one or more eco-friendly technologies must be incorporated into the design, and 30% or more of total energy must be supplied through new and renewable energy sources. The project initiator must obtain review from the Gyeonggi Province Eco-Friendly Technology Review Committee before completing detailed design.

▲ Expansion of Customized Bus Service

Customized bus routes currently operated on 26 routes in 15 cities and counties will be expanded with one route each in Paju, Yangju, Dongducheon, and Yeoncheon starting March next year. Customized buses operate in transportation-disadvantaged areas such as rural regions in the province, with 70% of operational losses supported by Gyeonggi Province and the cities and counties.

▲ Gyeonggi Welfare Taxi

The service areas for Gyeonggi Welfare Taxis will expand from rural areas to regions recognized as having insufficient public transportation according to public transportation surveys. Accordingly, residents in public transportation gaps such as urban peripheral industrial parks will be able to use Gyeonggi Welfare Taxis. Gyeonggi Welfare Taxis can be used at fares comparable to bus fares. The difference between bus and taxi fares is covered by the province and cities and counties.

▲ Creation of Scrap Parking Lots

Old residences and idle land in older urban residential areas will be purchased and converted into scrap parking lots. The province plans to create 30 such lots, and when cities secure sites and apply for parking lot creation, the full installation costs will be supported.

▲ Support for Free Public Parking Facilities

When parking facilities at schools and religious institutions are opened free to local residents, installation costs for related facilities such as CCTV, painting, and signage will be supported. The province plans to support 15 locations next year, allocating a total of 750 million won in provincial funds, with a maximum of 50 million won per location.

5. Safe and Enjoyable Gyeonggi Province (Safety, Culture, Sports, and Tourism)

▲ Introduction of Doctor Helicopter

A 24-hour operational doctor helicopter will be introduced at the Southern Gyeonggi Trauma Center (Ajou University Hospital). The doctor helicopter to be introduced by Gyeonggi Province is capable of emergency treatment and minor surgery inside the helicopter and can be equipped with various rescue equipment, enabling simultaneous medical and rescue operations. The province expects that with the introduction of the doctor helicopter, treatment will be possible within one hour anywhere in Gyeonggi's 31 cities and counties, significantly reducing the mortality rate from severe trauma.

▲ Simultaneous Sign Language Interpretation at Various External Activities

Starting next year, sign language interpreters will be deployed for various activities directly targeting residents, such as major policy announcements and events. This aims to actively inform deaf people experiencing hearing or language impairments about provincial administration and improve awareness of sign language. Sign language interpretation will be handled by interpreters from the 'Gyeonggi Province Sign Language Interpretation Center.'

▲ Operation of Gyeonggi Province Culture Day

Starting next year, the last Wednesday of each month will be designated as 'Gyeonggi Province Culture Day.' 'Gyeonggi Province Culture Day' expands the government's current 'Culture Day' program, with plans to increase participating institutions from the current 328 facilities to 560 by 2022, including museums, art galleries, and arts centers. Additional benefits including fee reductions and free admission will be provided. Currently, the province is pursuing ordinance enactment.

▲ Performance Venue Rental Fee Support

To ease rental fee burdens for arts groups and artists in the province and expand opportunities for creative presentations, rental fees for public performance venues and exhibition spaces will be supported. The maximum support per performance is 4 million won.

▲ Additional Creation of Gyeonggi Culture Creation Hub

One additional Gyeonggi Culture Creation Hub will be created through competitive selection among cities and counties, in addition to the five currently located in Pangyo, Gwanggyo, Uijeongbu, Siheung, and Goyang. Eligible applicants are cities and counties other than existing Gyeonggi Culture Creation Hub operating areas, with recruitment scheduled for January 2019. The Gyeonggi Culture Creation Hub is a start-up and startup support center established by Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Content Promotion Agency to support business creation and job creation in the content field.