Gyeonggi Province What's Changing in the New Year

▲ Seo-Suwon~Uiwang Expressway Toll Reduction = Starting January 1st, tolls on the Seo-Suwon~Uiwang Expressway will be reduced by 100 won each for passenger cars, buses, and cargo vehicles, and 50 won for compact cars. Approximately 46 million vehicles annually are expected to benefit.

▲ Regional Development Bond Purchase Exemption and Reduction for One Year = In Gyeonggi Province, vehicle registration with engines of 2,000cc or less will no longer require the purchase of regional development bonds. Non-commercial passenger vehicles with engines exceeding 2,000cc will receive a 50% reduction on regional development bond purchases. This is in consideration of economic hardship for lower-income households and will be applied temporarily for one year. Regional development bonds have been issued by the provincial governor since 1989 for promoting resident welfare and funding regional development projects, and are mandatory for new or transferred vehicle registrations and construction contract awards.

▲ Budget Plan Submitted to Provincial Assembly in Early September = The following year's budget plan, previously submitted to the provincial assembly in mid-November, will be submitted two months earlier in early September. Accordingly, the budget department will establish a financial management plan by February, and by April, departments and agencies will consult in advance with the provincial assembly on major projects. By June, each department and agency will be required to submit budgets to the budget department consisting of 90% of ongoing projects and 10% of new projects.

▲ Startup Campus Opening = A startup campus will open in Pangyo Techno Valley in March. It will support startup discovery, nurturing, establishment, investment attraction, and overseas expansion.

▲ Support for Small Business Owners Affected by Public Interest Building Closures = When buildings are closed for public interest due to emergencies such as infectious diseases and disasters, the business losses of small business tenant operators in those buildings will be compensated. Related ordinances were enacted following the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak.

▲ European Business Center Operations = The European Business Center, a dedicated organization for promoting technology partnerships and collaboration with European technology-specialized small and medium enterprises seeking to enter the Korean market, will open in February. It will be located on the 9th floor of the Gwanggyo Business Center, with 33 companies and research institutes from 9 countries expected to move in.

▲ Introduction of Working Youth Savings Account = A youth savings account program will be introduced for 500 low-income working youth aged 18-34 with household income at or below 80% of the median income (based on single-person household standard of 1.25 million won). When participants save 100,000 won monthly and maintain employment, the province will provide 100,000 won and private fundraising will provide 50,000 won monthly, accumulating 10 million won in self-sufficiency funds over 3 years.

▲ Living Wage Increase = The living wage will increase from 6,810 won per hour to 7,030 won per hour. The scope of support will also expand from direct employees of Gyeonggi Province to direct employees of subordinate organizations.

▲ Pilot Installation of Public Postpartum Care Centers = During the first half of the year, a public postpartum care center will be pilot-installed in one location among Dongducheon, Yeoju, Gapyeong, and Yeoncheon, where postpartum care centers are lacking. Approximately 1.173 billion won will be invested to open a facility covering approximately 600 square meters. The facility will accommodate 10-14 people and charge a usage fee of 1.68 million won based on a 2-week stay.

▲ Expansion of Shuttle Bus Arrival Information Service = The shuttle bus arrival information service currently provided in 10 cities including Yongin, Anyang, Namyangju, Paju, Siheung, Guri, Hanam, Gwacheon, Gwangmyeong, and Seongnam will be expanded to Goyang, Bucheon, Gunpo, Uiwang, and Yangju.