Metropolitan government unveils ten policies to help achieve its goal of becoming a “world-class city” where its people can always feel happy
Celebrating his 100th day in office, Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok (8th democratically elected Mayor of Incheon) says his administration will focus on growing Incheon’s economy to KRW 100 trillion in GRDP and help the city take the leap as the 2nd most important city in Korea.
On October 6, the Incheon Metropolitan Government hosted an event to declare the city’s vision and governance objectives after the first 100 days of the 8th democratically elected city government at the main conference room inside city hall. Mayor YooJeong-bok announced and explained the ten major policies related to the administration of the city (i.e. ① A balanced city where everyone can lead happy and prosperous lives; ② A global city where dreams come true; ③ A city of communication that treats its people with sincerity and care; and an ④ Innovative city that creates future values).
The first governance policy -a balanced city where everyone can lead happy and prosperous lives - is designed to create better balance across the old city center and new innovative parts of the city, and to make sure all roads lead to Incheon with convenient transportation options.
▲ On October 6, the Incheon Metropolitan Government hosted an event to declare the city’s vision and governance objectives after the first 100 days of the 8th democratically elected city government at the main conference room inside city hall. The city says it will focus on growing Incheon’s economy to KRW 100 trillion in GRDP and take the leap as the 2nd most important city in Korea.
To ensure a better balance in terms of the development of Incheon as a city, the metropolitan government will channel its strengths to kick start the “Jemulpo Renaissance” era at the Inner Port Free Economic Zone, and to promote development in the old city center. In regards to transportation, core projects will involve new railway networks such as the KTX, GTX, and Gyeongin line no. 2. Incheon will also look to build a more robust train network, bring the Incheon Daero boulevard underground, and build an airport on Baengnyeongdo Island.
The second municipal policy,“A global city where dreams come true,” is aimed at growing the city’s economy to KRW 100 trillion in size, building a city that is better to work, and a clean and “green” city teeming with life.
First, in order to build an economy worth KRW 100 trillion, the new administration will propose projects that can attract high-tech companies, and nurture foundational industries, materials/parts/equipment industries. It will also help ensure the innovative growth of SMEs, develop young entrepreneurs with great start-up ideas, and support small business owners with an overhauled Incheon Sarang Gift Certificate (Eum Card). In doing so, the metropolitan city government is hoping to create 600,000 new jobs and become the second most important economic hub in the country, just behind Seoul.
Incheon ranked second place among the special and metropolitan cities in Korea with a GRDP of KRW 88.5trillion in 2017. The city, however, dropped one place to third in 2020 (GRD Pof KRW 89.6 trillion) due to deteriorating economic conditions
Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok is planning to establish the Incheon Economic Trend Analysis Center, which will serve as a control tower, and grow Incheon's economy to KRW 100 trillion in size by devising new plans to foster and support Incheon's strategic industries, and improve relevant systems as well as regulations.
As for the green and eco-friendly city sector, core tasks include closing down landfills used for the metropolitan region, creating alternative landfill sites, securing a stable supply of safe tap water, and reducing air pollution/becoming carbon neutral.
The third policy for Incheon, “A city of communication that treats its people with sincerity and care,” will help create a city that is happy with warm companionship and customized care policies, a city of education and safety where all citizens are healthy and happy, and a city of communication and empathy for its citizens.
In addition to policy tasks in the fields of health and welfare such as childcare, support for adolescents, young adults, the disabled and the elderly, the establishment of a new University of Oceans and Fisheries, the establishment of Incheon Public Medical University, the establishment of a National University Hospital, and the establishment of the 2nd Incheon Medical Center were proposed as core initiatives in the field of education and safety.
To foster better public communication and connect with the people, the city is planning to operate an online open mayor’s office and a traveling mayor’s office program, and host open sessions and meetings to communicate and feedback from the public at least once a quarter.
▲ Vision and slogan for the 8th democratically elected municipal government
Finally, the fourth municipal policy, “Innovative city that creates future values,” will boost Incheon’s competitiveness as a city that is ready for the future, a city where culture and art become part of people’s daily lives, and a city where farming households, fishing households, and urban residents can coexist in harmony.
In particular, to build a more competitive city, the municipal government will establish a new aviation repair and maintenance complex, establish new routes for UAM vehicles, develop the PAV industry, create a bio-innovation cluster, open a “robot land,” and establish a hydrogen production cluster. As for the field of culture, tourism, and sports, Incheon will build a domed stadium in Cheongna, establish a comprehensive support platform for cultural performers and artists, develop a new “Silk Road” for maritime tourism, stimulate tourism using the Ara Canal, and build a leisure and sports theme park. Building a local food platform used by both farming and fishing households as well as urban residents in Incheon, and revitalizing urban agriculture are proposed as major initiatives for the city of Incheon as well.
Meanwhile, Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok shared his thoughts on the first 100 days in office saying that the past 100 days will help lay the foundation for innovation that can propel Incheon further into the future.
▲ Incheon is looking to attract administrative offices for various organizations established by Overseas Koreans, and to reorganize the city’s administrative systems.
In terms of his administration’s achievements so far, the Mayor cited administrative offices for various organizations established by Overseas Koreans, reorganizing the city’s administrative systems, strategies tailored to improve the local economy, and the revisions made to the Incheon Sarang Gift Certificate system.The Mayor also cited the new trilateral council in the metropolitan area, plans for the Cheongna Starfield domed stadium, investments on biopharmaceutical facilities by Samsung Biologics, and the largest national subsidy of KRW 4.964trillion for Incheon over the past 100 days.
In terms of other notable achievements of his administration, the Mayor said Incheon now enjoys an improved status and reputation across the globe as a safe city with a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane, Australia. The Mayor also visited the APEC Secretariat in Singapore to help Incheon win its bid to host the 2025 APEC Summit.
The city presented a new design for its vision “Dream of Incheon, the Vision of Korea” as the 8th democratically elected city government. The new design is based on a star pattern that represents the North Star, which functions as a guide to dreams and a hopeful future, mixed with a typeface that feels modern and light. The star design symbolizes the bright future of Incheon, where a wide variety of information flows through its ports and airport.
