Incheon City is now entering the final stage toward the dawn of the high-speed rail era—a long-cherished dream of its 3.05 million residents.On the 16th, Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it had received notification from the Korea National Railway that “comprehensive test runs”—the final phase before the launch of the Incheon-departing KTX—are scheduled to begin on the 17th.The comprehensive test runs being conducted this time are intended to ensure the safety of train operations under conditions identical to actual commercial service and to comprehensively inspect everything from core railway systems—such as signaling and power—to passenger amenities, including stations and platforms.The operation schedule is set to proceed strictly in stages, beginning with preliminary inspections on the 17th, followed by facility verification tests in October, and then commercial trial runs.The Incheon-KTX Direct Connection Project involves constructing a new 3.19-kilometer section connecting the Suin Line and the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line, as well as expanding three existing stations: Songdo Station, Choryeong Station, and Eocheon Station. As of September 16, the project is approximately 86% complete; major construction work—including subgrade, track, and systems—was completed by August, and the project is proceeding on schedule with the goal of opening by the end of the year.However, the Korea National Railway Corporation has stated that if any issues requiring corrective action arise during test runs or safety inspections, it will thoroughly implement the necessary measures in accordance with the principle of “citizen safety first.” Accordingly, the corporation is leaving open the possibility that the opening schedule may be adjusted slightly (by 1–2 months) depending on the results of future detailed inspections.In addition, a specific train operation plan to support actual commercial service will be finalized shortly. The Korea National Railwa

Incheon has created an opportunity for foreign workers to overcome language barriers, share the importance of workplace safety, and strengthen their ability to prevent accidents.Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Chan-dae) announced that it celebrated the “2026 Foreign Workers’ Safety Quiz Competition - Challenge! Safety Golden Bell” on September 6 at the auditorium of the Incheon Support Center for Foreign Workers (ICFF), with about 200 foreign workers as participants.The event was held as part of the support project to eliminate blind spots in the prevention of major industrial accidents in local communities, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and Incheon Metropolitan City. It was designed to prevent industrial accidents among foreign workers, who can be particularly vulnerable to safety blind spots due to language and cultural differences, and to raise their safety awareness.The competition focused on industrial safety, everyday safety, fire prevention, and first aid measures that participants should be familiar with both at work and in their daily lives. In particular, the event increased participant engagement through a variety of question formats, including true-or-false questions in which participants physically moved to the area representing their chosen answer, as well as multiple-choice and short-answer questions. Immediately after each question, detailed explanations of relevant safety rules and accident response procedures were provided, delivering practical educational benefits.Participants who had prepared using the safety education materials distributed in advance competed enthusiastically, and a total of 10 participants from Myanmar were honored with awards following the preliminary and final rounds.In addition to the quiz competition, the event featured a variety of programs, including a K-Pop performance, an awards ceremony, and a lucky draw, which received an enthusiastic response from participants.Incheon Metropo

Incheon is creating an opportunity for young people aspiring to work at international organizations to gain practical career guidance and firsthand insights from the field.Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Chan-dae) announced that it will host the “2026 19th International Organization Career Academy” on September 16 at the Grand Auditorium of G-Tower in Songdo.Now in its 19th year, the academy has been reformed to reflect changing recruitment trends at international organizations and help young people establish concrete career paths. Moving beyond simply providing recruitment information, the program focuses on firsthand experiences and real-life success stories to help participants identify their strengths and apply them on the global stage.The event will consist of three sessions featuring highly practical programs. In the first session, a current employee of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Subregional Office for East and North-East Asia, located in Songdo, Incheon, will take the stage to provide an in-depth introduction to the latest recruitment environment and the actual work carried out at an international organization.In the second session, employees of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the United Nations Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (UNAPCICT), who successfully secured jobs after completing Incheon Metropolitan City’s “International Organization Career Experience Program,” will share firsthand experiences from the field and practical tips for securing employment at international organizations.In the final session, Cho Yong-min, CEO of Unbound LabDev, will deliver a lecture drawing on his extensive experience at global companies, including Google Korea and IBM. He will offer practical insights into the core competencies required on the international stage and outstanding career strategies. A detailed QA session will also be held i

Incheon Metropolitan City’s systematic efforts to build a global bio cluster and foster companies in relevant industries are translating into tangible results.Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Chan-dae) announced that bio companies headquartered in or operating major research facilities in Incheon received multiple awards at the “2026 Global Open Innovation Week,” held from September 9 to 11 at The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. The awards recognized the companies’ outstanding technological capabilities and growth potential.Hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and organized by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute and other organizations, the event is Korea’s largest open innovation platform. This year’s event brought together a record 23 leading global companies and investment institutions, including global pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Amgen, and Novo Nordisk, as well as venture capital firms.At the awards ceremony, leading companies based in or operating in the Incheon Songdo Bio Cluster dominated major award categories, highlighting their growing presence in the global market. Samsung Biologics received a Minister of Health and Welfare Commendation (Organization) for contributing to the development of a global open innovation ecosystem based on its world-leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) capabilities for biopharmaceuticals.Voronoi Co., Ltd., headquartered in Incheon and recognized for its research and development of precision-targeted anticancer drugs, was selected to receive a Commendation from the President of the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (Organization). Voronoi has laid the foundation for its growth through close support from Incheon Metropolitan City, including technical support under the Startup Leap Package and startup investment funds launched by the city in 2020.In addition, Epibiotech Co., Ltd., an Incheon-based company specializing in the research and developmen

Arts Center Incheon announced that it would hold the “Concert Celebrating the 62nd Incheon Citizens’ Day 23rd Anniversary of IFEZ” at its Concert Hall at 7:30 PM on October 15.The commemorative concert is being presented in connection with the “Happiness Culture Ticket” program, allowing citizens to enjoy high-quality performances at an affordable price. All Incheon citizens can purchase tickets for KRW 1,000, while residents of other regions can attend for KRW 20,000.Led by conductor Chung Han-gyul, the Incheon New Philharmonic Orchestra will present a rich and layered program for audiences.The concert will open with Mozart’s lively overture to The Marriage of Figaro, followed by “Tonight,” a signature song from the musical West Side Story, performed by tenor Isaiah and mezzo-soprano Shin Hyun-sun, and “One Fine Day in October,” featuring soprano Yang Ji and baritone Ryu Seung-wan and capturing the mood of autumn. The program will continue with Arban’s Variations on The Carnival of Venice, showcasing the dazzling performance of trumpeter Alex Volkov, followed by traditional Korean music performances of “Gasibeosi Sarang” and “Bae Ttwieora,” performed by traditional Korean vocalist Yang Eun-byeol, further heightening the festive atmosphere.The highlight of the concert will be the fourth movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Choral. Four vocal soloists—soprano Yang Ji, mezzo-soprano Shin Hyun-sun, tenor Lee Sa-ya, and baritone Ryu Seung-wan—will be joined by a combined choir comprising the Incheon Male Choir, Incheon Women’s Choir, Scala Choir, Yeonsu-gu Municipal Women’s Choir, and Namdong-gu Municipal Women’s Choir, delivering a grand and powerful sound of harmony.The director of Arts Center Incheon said, “We have prepared a special stage to enrich the everyday lives of citizens in celebration of Incheon Citizens’ Day and the anniversary of IFEZ’s opening. We hope Incheon citizens will create meaningful autumn memor

The night view of Cheongnahaneuldaegyo Bridge is about to become even more special.As September brings cooler evening breezes and a welcome respite from the daytime heat, making it an ideal season for walking and relaxing outdoors, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZ) will launch “Media Lounge,” a nighttime video content program utilizing the space beneath Cheongnahaneuldaegyo Bridge, starting September 8.The program transforms the expansive space beneath the bridge deck into one large screen, allowing visitors to enjoy videos together with the surrounding scenery. After sunset, the sea and bridge become a backdrop as vibrant videos unfold across the space, creating a landscape that offers a different experience from daytime.The first story is “The Four Seasons.” From the brightness of spring and greenery of summer to the rich colors of autumn and tranquility of winter, the video captures the changing scenery and emotions of each season in a single presentation, offering visitors a unique experience of encountering all four seasons in succession during a brief stop.The video will be screened four times between 7 PM and 8 PM.The screening schedule will be adjusted in line with earlier sunset times as autumn progresses. Operating hours and the number of screenings will be adjusted flexibly depending on weather and visitor conditions. Once the weather turns significantly colder, the authority will determine whether to continue the program based on temperatures and weather conditions.There is also no need to seek out a separate viewing area. Visitors can naturally encounter the videos projected beneath the bridge while walking along the waterfront. It adds a new attraction that visitors can pause to enjoy during a cool autumn evening stroll.During the day, visitors can enjoy the scenery where the sea and sky come together, while at night, they can take in the light and video displays beneath the bridge and discover another side of Cheongnahaneuldaegyo

Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Chan-dae) announced that it held the inaugural meeting of the Incheon Defense Industry Innovation Cluster Regional Council on September 2, where it appointed council members and deliberated on and approved the “Incheon Defense Innovation Cluster Project Plan (Draft).”The Incheon Defense Innovation Cluster project is a large-scale initiative to establish a regionally driven defense industry ecosystem, with “AI aviation (edge AI-based counter-drone technologies)” designated as its specialized field.Key initiatives will include the development of core technologies to neutralize and intercept unauthorized pilotless aircraft; the establishment of testing and demonstration infrastructure; support for the growth of promising SMEs and their entry into defense industry supply chains; and training of specialized personnel.The newly launched regional council consists of 19 defense industry experts from industry, academia, research institutions, the military, and government. The council will be co-chaired by the Incheon Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs and the Director General of the Defense Industry Promotion Bureau of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. They will oversee deliberation and decision-making on major projects and coordinate cooperation among participating organizations.In particular, experts from key demand-side organizations, including the military and defense system companies, will play a major role in the council. They will help establish technology development directions aligned with field requirements and provide comprehensive support for promising small and medium-sized and venture companies in Incheon to enter defense industry supply chains.The meeting covered the five-year master plan for 2026–2030 in depth and detailed implementation plans for the first year of the project in 2026. Council members agreed on the urgent need to localize core counter-drone technologies that are rapidly emerging

Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Chan-dae) announced that it completed the approval of the industrial complex development plan for the entire Gyeyang Techno Valley Urban High-Tech Industrial Complex by publishing the “Approval of and Topographical Map for the Revised Industrial Complex Development Plan for the Incheon Gyeyang Techno Valley Urban High-Tech Industrial Complex” on August 31.The announcement finalizes approval of the industrial complex development plan for the entire 757,457 m2 site, including the remaining 410,020 m2 Phase 2 area following the approval of the 347,437 m2 Phase 1 priority development area in December 2024. This provides the foundation for the full-scale development of the industrial complex.Following the approval, Incheon Metropolitan City plans to proceed with the development of the industrial complex and the supply of industrial and other sites, including land for industrial facilities, while stepping up efforts to attract companies to move into the complex.The industrial complex has been designed as an integrated urban space, with 507,944 m2 of industrial land complemented by 109,849 m2 of residential areas, 11,746 m2 of commercial areas, and 127,918 m2 of green space. Rather than serving simply as a workplace, the complex will be developed as a mixed-use, high-tech urban industrial complex, integrating infrastructure such as roads and parks with comprehensive residential and support functions.The complex will also focus on attracting companies that combine specialized expertise with environmental sustainability. The city plans to actively attract companies in high-value-added knowledge-based industries, including information and communications, research and development, software development, and broadcasting and video content, as well as companies specializing in eco-friendly advanced manufacturing, including machinery and equipment manufacturing.In particular, the city will strictly restrict the entry of businesses that emi

Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Chan-dae) will revamp its existing “1,000 Won Culture Ticket” into the “Incheon Happiness Culture Ticket” and launch the new program in October, making it easier for all citizens to enjoy a wide range of cultural experiences close to home.The city government announced that it would launch the “Incheon Happiness Culture Ticket” program in October for approximately 6,000 citizens to commemorate Citizens’ Day and add greater meaning to October as the “Month of Culture.”Following the program’s focus on arts performances in May, the October edition will diversify its offerings to include performances, sports, and tourism, bringing positive changes to citizens’ everyday lives through culture.In particular, the city has renamed the “1,000 Won Culture Ticket” as the “Happiness Culture Ticket” to reflect the program’s goal of expanding opportunities for citizens to enjoy culture. The new name represents the city’s commitment to making diverse cultural content more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.The “Happiness Culture Ticket” initiative was first introduced in October last year. At the beginning, the program provided cultural, sports, and tourism experiences to more than 5,000 citizens, youth, and culturally underserved groups through performances, professional soccer games, city tour buses, and the Wolmi Sea Train. Starting this year, the program has been expanded to operate in the first and second halves of the year in conjunction with Family Month in May and Citizens’ Day in October.This October, the city has prepared a diverse range of programs, including arts performances such as shadow theater, classical music, traditional performance plays, and theater, as well as professional soccer and tourism programs. The range of options has been expanded to allow anyone, from children to adults, to enjoy the program.First, Incheon Culture and Arts Center will present “Hand Shadow Fantasy ANIMAR

Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Chan-dae) is expanding its “Real-Time Parking Information Service” from public parking lots to private parking lots to make parking more convenient for its citizens and help alleviate traffic congestion in urban areas.After establishing its “Integrated Public Parking Information Plan” last year, Incheon has been providing integrated information on public parking lots across the city through the Incheon Traffic Information Center website since January this year. To expand the service to private parking lots, the city signed a business agreement with i PARKING Co., Ltd. (CEO Kim Dong-ho), a leading parking platform company in Korea, on August 21 to provide real-time parking information.Under the agreement, i PARKING will link real-time parking availability from private parking facilities to the “Parking Information” service of the Incheon Traffic Information Center. The city will then provide this information to citizens through the Incheon Traffic Information Center’s website. It also plans to make the information available through platforms such as the Public Data Portal in the future, supporting its widespread use in the private sector, including the development of navigation apps.The parking information service, which has so far focused on public parking lots, will now expand into the private sector through this agreement. As a result, the number of private parking lots offering real-time parking information is expected to continue increasing.The city government also plans to expand the provision of real-time parking information to 20 public parking lots across the city in September.