- Following the launching ceremony for the Overseas Korean Service, Incheon announces its vision for the “Incheon Project” to make it a city of 10 million -
- Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok sees his City growing into a world-class city using its global network, presents four key goals and fifteen strategic initiatives -
With Incheon launching the Overseas Korean Service, the City is now on a path to becoming a world-class metropolis, home to 10 million people not only in Korea, but across the globe.
Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor: Yoo Jeong-bok) hosted the “Launching Ceremony for the new Overseas Korean Service” at the United Nations (UN) Square in Songdo Central Park on June 5, and shared his vision of Incheon growing into a city of 10 million.
Previously, Incheon had worked relentlessly since September last year to win its bid to host the Overseas Korean Service. Its hard work paid off when the Korean government indeed chose Incheon as the new home for the Agency in May. The Launching Ceremony for the Overseas Korean Service got under way at the Buyong Songdo Tower where the Agency will be headquartered.
More than 1,000 guests, including President Yoon Suk Yeol, Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, new Director of the Overseas Korean Service Lee Ki-cheol, overseas Koreans who helped bring the Agency to Incheon, leaders from various civic, social, and functional groups, as well as the general public, attended the event.
The Ceremony featured a congratulatory video for the Overseas Korean Service, and Incheon awarded an appreciation plaque to the expedition that traveled across the Pacific Ocean (from Los Angeles) to celebrate the 120th anniversary of Koreans emigrating to Hawaii.
The Mayor also presented his vision for the City’s “Incheon 10 million city project.”
The '10 Million City Incheon Project' aims to transform Incheon into a world-class metropolis by becoming the central hub of a network for 7.5 million Koreans around the world, similar to the way the global Jewish network helped create the modern-day Israel and how overseas Chinese helped build Hong Kong and Singapore. Incheon is hoping to leverage the overseas Koreans network around to become a world-class city.
When the decision was made to bring the Overseas Korean Service to Incheon, the City used its support system to help open the Agency’s headquarters, establish a vision that could help Incheon become the hub for 10 million people, and also develop strategies to promote going forward.
The project has four key goals: ①Establish Incheon as a hub for overseas Koreans (open a Welcome Center, create an American Town and residential complex exclusively for overseas Koreans); ②Develop Incheon as a hub for Korean businesses; ③Grow the global network of Koreans; and ④Create value for the Korean diaspora. The project also has fifteen strategic initiatives designed to make sure Incheon achieves its key goals.
In order to successfully promote the “Incheon 10 million city project,” Incheon is looking to set up a dedicated organization in the second half of this year. For the first time in Korea, this new organization will be tasked with implementing the City’s strategic initiatives, and establishing the basis for ordinances to support overseas Koreans. Moreover, Incheon will work with the Agency, such as dispatching public officials as liaisons to the Agency, to deliver tangible results over the short term.
The Mayor said, “Incheon has been a gateway between Korea and the world since its port was opened to foreigners back in 1883. It also has the most successful free economic zone in Korea, which plays a leading role in developing high-tech industries such as semiconductors and bio, and it is a massive reason why Incheon has attracted so much investment from across the world.” He added, “Korea’s first migrants to Hawaii departed from Incheon back in 1902. The thought that our City will once again serve as a bridge to the world once again feels particularly special.”
The Mayor continued, “Now that we’ve opened the Overseas Korean Service, Incheon will mature into a world-class city with help from 3 million citizens in Incheon and another 7.5 million overseas Koreans around the world. Our City will lead the way in making sure Korea becomes a power player in the world. I would like to thank the local community and its people here in Incheon for helping us bring the Agency to Incheon. I look forward to your continued interest and support as Incheon embarks on its journey to becoming a global hub and metropolis.”
