Gyeonggi Province to Select Relocation Sites for Public Institutions Through Municipal Recruitment

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon Reporter] As Gyeonggi Province pursues the relocation of provincial public institutions concentrated in southern Gyeonggi, the province is shifting the site selection process from provincial decision-making to a municipal recruitment method.

Gyeonggi Province has finalized relocation plans for five public institutions: ▲Gyeonggi Job Foundation ▲Gyeonggi Small Business & Traditional Market Promotion Agency ▲Gyeonggi Social Service Agency ▲Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation ▲Gyeonggi Environment & Energy Promotion Agency, and announced on the 3rd that it will launch a location recruitment competition targeting 17 municipalities in northern Gyeonggi, natural conservation zones, and border areas.

This municipal recruitment competition reflects the will of Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, who has emphasized "special compensation for the special sacrifice of residents in underdeveloped areas," and is a measure to distribute public institutions concentrated in southern Gyeonggi and to promote balanced regional development and build administrative infrastructure lacking in northern areas. The five institutions have approximately 470 employees and a total building area of approximately 6,000 square meters.

The recruitment is scheduled for July, with each institution to determine specific timing and recruitment methods.

The target municipalities are limited to Goyang, Namyangju, Uijeongbu, Paju, Yangju, Guri, Pocheon, Dongducheon, Gapyeong, Yeoncheon, Gimpo, Icheon, Yangpyeong, Yeoju, Gwangju, Anseong, and Yongin—a total of 17 municipalities and counties in economically disadvantaged areas in northern Gyeonggi, border regions, and natural conservation zones.

Selection criteria will be established by comprehensively considering balanced regional development, current distribution of Gyeonggi Province public institutions, business relevance with provincial public institutions, and cooperation with provincial policies. However, municipal financial burden contributions will be excluded to prevent excessive competition and reduce burden.

The Gyeonggi Job Foundation, which handles employment and training support as well as employment policy research, was established in 2016 and is currently located on the 3rd floor of the former Wonmi District Office building in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. The Gyeonggi Small Business & Traditional Market Promotion Agency, which oversees small business and traditional market development, was established in September last year and is currently located on the 5th floor of Suwon Convention Center. The Gyeonggi Social Service Agency, which operates state and public social welfare facilities and provides comprehensive home-based services, opened in January this year at the Gyeonggi Talent Development Institute in Suwon.

The Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation, which will integrate and manage Gyeonggi Province's public transportation system including buses, and the Gyeonggi Environment & Energy Promotion Agency, which will handle fine dust reduction and renewable energy promotion projects, are newly planned institutions scheduled to be established in the second half of this year.

Previously, the province signed a memorandum of understanding with Goyang City in December last year to develop northern Gyeonggi into a world-class culture, tourism, and education hub, relocating three public institutions—Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, and Gyeonggi Lifelong Education Promotion Agency—to Goyang City.

Choi Won-yong, Director of Planning and Coordination Division, said, "We expect this recruitment to serve as an opportunity for fair metropolitan administration, mutual cooperation between the province and municipalities, and balanced regional development," and added, "We will make efforts to ensure that the recruitment process is conducted fairly and transparently."