-2025: Successively Hosting Major International Events Across Climate, Economy, Culture, and Peace-
In 2025, Incheon emerged as a city the world watched.
Major international events in diverse fields—climate change response, global economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and peace promotion—were held consecutively, establishing Incheon as a representative global city within the world, beyond Korea.
This year alone, 18 international events were hosted in Incheon, each showcasing the city's innovation, cooperation, and sustainable future vision.
Climate and Environment Sector: Steps Toward a Sustainable City
Incheon played a central role on the international stage in responding to the climate crisis.
At the ‘12th International Climate Finance and Industry Conference (September 30, Songdo Convensia)’, representatives from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the World Bank, and UN agencies participated to explore industrial solutions for the carbon-neutral era under the theme ‘Just Transition and Strengthening Climate Resilience’.
Additionally, the ‘5th International Low Carbon City Forum (August 25, UN Conference Center, Bangkok)’, the ‘Incheon International Environmental Technology Conpex (October 15-16, Songdo Convensia)’, and the ‘International Eco-Friendly Plastics Conference (September 17-18, Songdo Convensia)’.
Notably, the Environmental Technology Conpex was selected for the ‘Global K-Convention Fostering Project’, securing national funding for the next six years and elevating Incheon's status as an eco-friendly future city.
Economy & Industry Sector: A City Hand in Hand with the Global Economy
Incheon's international competitiveness also shone brightly in the industrial and economic sectors.
The ‘2025 Asia Biotechnology Conference and International Conference of the Korean Society for Biotechnology’ held at the Grand Hyatt Incheon from September 23 to 27 gathered 3,000 scientists from over 40 countries to discuss the future of the bioeconomy. The 'World Korean Economic Conference and K-Business Expo Incheon (October 27-30, Songdo Convensia) ' saw 1,500 overseas businesspeople from 74 countries participate, strengthening global networks.
The ‘2025 InChina Forum International Conference (September 2, Songdo Convensia)’, a platform for Korea-China economic cooperation, was also recognized as a venue for substantive collaboration between the two nations.
Furthermore, the ‘APEC Incheon Meeting (3rd Senior Officials’ Meeting)' held from July 26 to August 15 was a mega-scale international conference with over 5,800 participants from 21 member economies. It hosted more than 200 meetings on topics like AI, digital technology, and food security, showcasing Incheon's international event management capabilities and urban infrastructure competitiveness to the world.
Peace, Security, and Architecture: Spreading Messages of Solidarity and Cooperation
In the areas of peace, resilience, and urban culture, Incheon's stature was evident.
At the ‘International Peace and Security Forum Incheon (September 15, Songdo Convensia)’, representatives from nations that participated in the Korean War and the younger generation gathered to announce a ‘Declaration of Solidarity for Peace’. At the 'International Disaster Resilience Leaders Forum (September 29-30, Songdo Convensia) saw experts from 20 countries, including the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), discuss ways to strengthen urban resilience.
Meanwhile, the 21st Asian Architects Congress (September 11, Songdo Convensia) drew over 7,000 attendees, including delegations from the Asian Architects Council representing 24 countries, Jamboree participants, domestic architects, architecture experts, academics, and citizens, to envision the future of sustainable urban architecture.
Concurrently, the ‘International Public Safety Industry Exhibition (October 22-23, Songdo Convensia)’, Korea's sole exhibition for public safety, security, and safety industries, showcased cutting-edge public safety technologies like AI and robotics, reinforcing Incheon's image as a smart safety city.
Cultural and Civic Exchange — A Festival Stage with the World
Cultural and civic participation events also propelled Incheon toward the world stage.
The ‘Incheon International Choir Festival’ (September 16-19, Art Center Incheon), held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Incheon Landing Operation, featured 34 choirs and and over 2,000 participants, making it the largest international choral festival to date. The ‘Incheon International Half Marathon’ held in March, with 15,000 runners from 5 countries, established itself as a global civic festival uniting the city and its citizens.
A City Recognized by the World — Winner of the UN Sustainable Development City Award
Incheon, having successfully hosted such diverse international events, has also gained recognition for its achievements within the international community.
On October 31 (local time), Incheon became the first city in Korea to receive the ‘2025 UN Global Sustainable Development City Award (Shanghai Award)’ at the UN World Cities Day commemoration ceremony held in Bogotá, Colombia.
Co-hosted by UN-Habitat and Shanghai Municipality, this award is the world's most prestigious urban honor, comprehensively evaluating economic, social, and environmental sustainability, inclusive policies, and citizen participation. Incheon received high praise for its successful bid to host the Green Climate Fund (GCF), its 2045 Carbon Neutrality Vision, and its citizen-participatory smart city policies.
In 2025, Incheon became not merely a city hosting numerous events, but a global platform where talents and ideas from around the world converged. As a city where climate and industry, peace and culture coexist, it is transforming the era's challenge of ‘sustainable development’ into reality.
Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok stated, “This year solidified Incheon's position at the center of the international stage,” adding, “From a city where the world gathers, we will now leap forward to become a city recognized by the world.”
