[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is promoting the relocation of public institutions under the province that are concentrated in the southern part of Gyeonggi, and has decided to select the relocation areas through a public contest among cities and counties.
On the 3rd, Gyeonggi Province announced that it has confirmed the relocation of five public institutions: Gyeonggi Job Foundation, Gyeonggi Market and Commercial Promotion Agency, Gyeonggi Social Service Institute, Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation, and Gyeonggi Environment and Energy Promotion Institute, and will begin a site selection contest targeting 17 cities and counties located in northern Gyeonggi, natural conservation zones, and border areas.
This city and county contest reflects the will of Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province, who has emphasized "special compensation for the special sacrifices of residents in neglected areas."
The province especially holds the position that it is necessary to disperse public institutions concentrated in southern Gyeonggi to achieve balanced regional development and to build administrative infrastructure lacking in northern areas.
According to the province, the five institutions have about 470 employees, and the total floor area of the buildings is 6,000㎡. The contest will be held next month.
The target cities and counties for the contest are 17 areas in northern Gyeonggi, border areas, and natural conservation zones that lack financial resources and administrative infrastructure: Goyang, Namyangju, Uijeongbu, Paju, Yangju, Guri, Pocheon, Dongducheon, Gapyeong, Yeoncheon, Gimpo, Icheon, Yangpyeong, Yeoju, Gwangju, Anseong, and Yongin.
The selection criteria include balanced development, the current status of Gyeonggi public institution placement, business relevance with provincial public institutions, and cooperation with provincial administration. However, to prevent excessive competition and reduce burdens, the financial burden on cities and counties will be excluded.
The Gyeonggi Job Foundation, responsible for employment, education and training support, and job policy research, was established in 2016 and is currently located on the third floor of the former Wonmi District Office building in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province.
The Gyeonggi Market and Commercial Promotion Agency, responsible for supporting small business owners and traditional markets, was established in September last year and is currently located on the fifth floor of the Suwon Convention Center.
The Gyeonggi Social Service Institute, which operates national and public social welfare facilities and provides comprehensive home care services, opened in January this year at the Gyeonggi Human Resources Development Institute in Suwon.
The Gyeonggi Transportation Corporation, which will integrate and manage Gyeonggi public buses and other public transportation systems, and the Gyeonggi Environment and Energy Promotion Institute, which will be responsible for fine dust reduction and the spread of renewable energy, are newly established institutions scheduled to be founded in the second half of this year.
Earlier, in December last year, the province signed a business agreement to relocate three public institutions?the Goyang City, Gyeonggi Cultural Foundation, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, and Gyeonggi Lifelong Education Promotion Institute?to Goyang City to develop northern Gyeonggi into a global cultural, tourism, and education hub.
Choi Won-yong, Director of Planning and Coordination Office of the province, said, "We expect this contest to be an opportunity for fair metropolitan administration, win-win cooperation between the province and cities/counties, and balanced regional development," adding, "We will strive to ensure that the contest process is conducted fairly and transparently."
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