New Year's Address Acting Governor Oh Byeong-gwon of Gyeonggi Province

Esteemed residents of Gyeonggi Province, numbering 13.9 million!
The new year of 2022, the Year of the Tiger, has dawned. I wish your daily lives to become ever more abundant.

The 7th term of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government is now entering its final stages. Changes to protect the lives of residents have taken root throughout the province. Along with concluding the 7th term, efforts to continue walking together with residents will persist.

Looking back, there have been no shortage of difficulties. In particular, many have endured a difficult year within the long tunnel of COVID-19. I sincerely thank the residents of Gyeonggi who have walked an unfamiliar path together, bearing the inconveniences of livelihood and daily life for the safety of the community. Thanks to residents who united their hearts through solidarity and cooperation at each critical juncture, we have been able to preserve the spark of hope.

In the new year of 2022, we must move forward toward a new normal once again. I will prioritize preventing the spread of disease to protect residents' health and lives, while completing people-oriented tasks in various sectors. I will push forward with projects underway without interruption and carefully prepare the foundation to turn the crisis of great transformation into opportunity.

□ I will concentrate fiscal capacity on recovering the people's economy.

COVID-19 has deepened the wrinkles in the common people's economy. Empty streets and closed shops vividly show the current difficulties and future tasks ahead.

Recent various indicators also demonstrate recovery in our economy. However, the warmth that follows economic recovery has not spread throughout the common people's economy as a whole.

We must continue changes that residents struggling with immediate hardship and debt, as well as small business owners and self-employed individuals facing another period of hardship due to gathering bans and renewed social distancing, can feel tangibly. For this, the active role of fiscal policy is important.

First, I will do my best to revitalize the sluggish street commerce and traditional markets. I will help those at risk of closure make a comeback, and I will greatly increase support for the expanding untact consumption culture after COVID-19 to permeate alleyway commerce throughout the province.

Job stability is the core of people's livelihoods and the starting point for economic recovery. I will continue to accelerate efforts to create quality jobs by supporting innovative industries.

□ The journey toward creating a fair world is a path we must continue to walk.

Residents' yearning for fairness burns hot. Fairness has quietly established itself as a topic of the times. Gyeonggi Province has worked hard to create a society where everyone enjoys equal opportunities and receives their just due for their contributions.

Going forward, I will focus on making tangible achievements by boldly improving various ills that remain throughout society. I will mobilize all available means to eradicate all acts that impede fair competition, including real estate speculation, illegal private finance, and subcontracting irregularities in the construction industry.

Furthermore, I will redouble efforts to complete the realization of a 'society where labor is respected.'

Workers in industries such as cleaning, security, and delivery have seen their income decline and have been exposed to unfair labor practices and employment insecurity, worsening labor conditions in the COVID situation. I will compensate for employment instability among vulnerable workers and continue to work without wavering to guarantee workers' basic rights and create a safe work environment.

□ I will further solidify welfare policies centered on 'care' and 'inclusion.'

Welfare is not charity but a right. Every resident should be able to realize happiness within the warmth of 'inclusion.' Gyeonggi Province will carefully ensure that those in difficult circumstances are not left in blind spots.

Prolonged COVID-19 has reduced income, and more families are facing crisis due to gaps in care. A foothold is needed for crisis families to leap forward. I will continue to provide support for victims of illegal private finance who have difficulty obtaining loans from formal financial institutions such as banks, and young people facing credit crisis.

I will also strengthen customized welfare services tailored to each life stage spanning the entire life cycle—children and youth, middle-aged adults, and the elderly. Public childcare, public healthcare, eco-friendly school meal support, and dental care programs for elementary school students will also continue to be implemented without pause. I will solidify welfare services so that every resident is guaranteed basic living conditions including housing and culture.

□ I will lead proactive preparation for transformation toward future-oriented industrial structures.

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution enters full swing, we are approaching the future at an ever-faster pace. If change cannot be avoided, we must prepare one step ahead. The new future that lies ahead will be an opportunity for those who prepare.

Semiconductors are cutting-edge future growth engines that will lead the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Gyeonggi Province is preparing for a leap toward becoming the 'world's largest semiconductor industry hub.' I will spare no support in clustering the semiconductor and materials-parts-components industries, operating differentiated smart industrial complexes, and fostering joint development between large and small-medium enterprises. Through this, I will realize the dream of semiconductor technological independence and open opportunities for regional economic vitalization and job creation.

I will expand investment in future new industries such as games, e-sports, virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR), and metaverse industries to establish a solid foundation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Gyeonggi Province will take the lead in responding to the climate crisis threatening humanity's survival. First, I will establish a close cooperation system with the central government to effectively implement the '2050 Carbon Neutral Scenario' and the '2030 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Roadmap.'

I will expand efforts including the creation of Korea's first 'Pyeongtaek Port Carbon-Neutral Hydrogen Complex Zone' with 14 public institutions and private companies working together and the development of a 'Hydrogen Convergence Theme City.'

Through the establishment of a carbon-neutral fund, I will support companies in eco-friendly and low-carbon related sectors and work to establish institutional foundations. Together with residents, I will move toward a sustainable carbon-neutral society for future generations.

□ Peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula and balanced development of eastern and northern Gyeonggi open new opportunities.

For residents of border areas living with the wall of division, peace is a matter of survival and a value that cannot be sacrificed for prosperity. Gyeonggi Province will provide clues to untangle the complex inter-Korean relations and fulfill its role in paving a path to peace.

Including quarantine and economic sectors, I will continue efforts to activate inter-Korean exchanges through various attempts beginning with feasible and sustainable matters such as disaster and emergency response. I will not stop efforts to transform the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) into a space of peace and ecology.

Balanced development of the northern and eastern regions of Gyeonggi, which have endured long-term sacrifice due to various unavoidable regulations for national security and environmental protection, must continue. I will proceed without interruption with the relocation of public institutions as promised to residents and will continue consideration across various sectors including infrastructure construction. Furthermore, I will steadily work to reduce residents' inconveniences in daily life by rationalizing unreasonable regulations that hinder regional development.

Esteemed residents of Gyeonggi Province,

The COVID-19 crisis continues. The journey to restore daily life will be arduous. However, I have faith in the inherent capacity of our residents and the competence of public officials. I extend renewed gratitude to 13.9 million residents who send trust and support to provincial governance.

As the 7th term of provincial government concludes, I am reminded of the duties of myself and fellow public officials. With the presidential election and local elections being held in succession, maintaining political neutrality obligations and establishing strict public discipline have become ever more important. On this foundation, I will fulfill my responsibility and role to the end throughout this year in improving residents' quality of life.

I envision Gyeonggi Province taking flight once again together with residents.

Wishing you good fortune in the new year. I pray you create a healthy and happy year. Thank you.

On the morning of the new year, Imsinnyeon (Year of the Tiger)

Acting Governor of Gyeonggi Province Oh Byeong-gwon