- Mayor meets with Bishop Jung Shin-chul of Dapdong Cathedral to commemorate Pope Francis and emphasize interfaith solidarity and harmony -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that Mayor Yoo visited the memorial for Pope Francis (266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church) on Apr. 24 at Dapdong Cathedral, the episcopal seat of the Incheon Diocese, to mourn his passing.Before visiting the memorial, Mayor Yoo met with Bishop Jung Shin-chul (3rd head of the Diocese of Incheon) to discuss Pope Francis’s legacy, his devotion to humanity, and the Catholic Church’s various contributions to the community. In particular, he expressed deep gratitude for the Incheon Diocese’s ongoing efforts to promote solidarity and harmony in the community through sharing and service.Mayor Yoo stated, “Pope Francis was a man who inspired and gave hope to people worldwide with his message of love and peace. We remember his warm teachings and deeply mourn his passing together with our citizens.” He added, “Incheon will do its utmost to carry on the spirit he left behind and put it into practice.”Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Mon, Apr. 21, 2025 at 7:35 AM (2:35 PM KST). His funeral Mass was held at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Sat, Apr. 26 at 10 AM (Rome time), and the Incheon Diocese held its official final memorial Mass at 10 AM (Korea time) on the same day.Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok laying a wreath at the Pope Francis memorial at Dapdong Cathedral on Apr. 24, guided by Bishop Jung Shin-chul of the Incheon Diocese. 

- Dedicated institution operated for early-onset dementia to strengthen customized support services- Early-onset dementia patients appointed as dementia awareness ambassadors to foster citizens’ engagement -- City government to realize Incheon-style culture of coexisting with dementia to create a community of mutual dependence -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) is leading in delivering customized support to individuals with early-onset dementia—commonly referred to as “young dementia”—and their families, spreading a message of hope.Incheon is the first city in South Korea to operate an institution dedicated exclusively to early-onset dementia, offering practical services for patients and their families. In particular, the city government appoints early-onset dementia patients as “Ambassadors of Hope for Overcoming Dementia,” actively supporting their social participation and ensuring they can speak up as valued members of society.Early-onset dementia, which develops before age 65, often brings significant challenges during one’s most active social and economic years. As of 2022, early-onset dementia patients accounted for 10.3% of all dementia cases in Incheon—well above the national average of 7.7%. Incheon is indicated as a region urgently requiring a proactive, concentrated response to early-onset dementia, as the city has the highest proportion of dementia patients under 65 in the country.As such, Incheon has designated the Brain Health School as an affiliated facility of the Incheon Dementia Center specializing in early-onset dementia since 2020, providing tailored daycare programs and educational services while also identifying various opportunities for social participation to pave the way for practical efforts in patient support.Notable activities include roles as daily staff in the dementia-friendly community cinema, photo studio for local residents run by early-onset dementia patients, and engagement in community-based jobs l

- Forest guide and early childhood forest education offered at the Incheon Grand Park Arboretum and Children’s Forest Experience Center –Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that the Incheon Grand Park Office would run forest experience programs, including forest guides and early childhood forest education, at Incheon Grand Park Arboretum and Children’s Forest Experience Center until November.The forest guide program offers educational experiences where visitors can observe and learn first-hand about native plants and insects displayed in the arboretum with forest guides. Customized programs are available for individuals and groups aged five and older, as well as for elderly individuals with dementia and organizations serving people with disabilities.Visitors to the arboretum can easily join the program through on-site registration, offering superb accessibility to a wide range of citizens.The early childhood forest education Program takes place at the Children’s Forest Experience Center, an ecological conservation area within Incheon Grand Park. This program helps foster children’s holistic development through games and interactions with forests and nature. It targets preschool children (ages 3+), with regular and occasional programs available for early childhood education groups such as kindergartens and daycare centers, along with family-friendly programs for households with young children.All programs are free of charge. Details such as quotas and registration methods can be found in the News menu on the Incheon Grand Park website.Incheon Grand Park Office Director Lim Sang-gyun stated, “We hope our forest experience programs will help citizens realize the value of forests and enhance children’s physical and mental well-being.”

- Temporary closure lifted following avian influenza prevention efforts; animal classes to run five times daily -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that Incheon Grand Park Children’s Zoo, which had been temporarily closed to prevent avian influenza (AI), will reopen on Apr. 22, 2025.The zoo is home to 159 animals across 33 species, including desert foxes, meerkats, Japanese macaques, squirrel monkeys, spotted deer, eagles, and eagle owls. Operating hours will be from 10 AM to 5 PM, with closures every Monday as well as Seollal and Chuseok holidays.The reopening will also see the return of the Children’s Animal Class, an interactive educational program introducing children to animal behavior and ecology. The class will be held five times daily from Tuesday through Saturday, with two sessions in the morning and three in the afternoon. Visitors wishing to participate can join on-site without the need for prior reservations.Incheon Grand Park Office Director Lim Sang-gyun stated, “We welcome the return of the zoo with the coming of spring. We hope the zoo will once again serve as a space where children can deepen their understanding of animals and foster a spirit of respect for life.” 

- The largest global gathering of Korean entrepreneurs, welcoming 3,000 participants from 64 countries -- Held in Songdo Convensia after eight years and first annual session in Incheon since launch of the Overseas Koreans Agency -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that it was officially selected as the host city for the 24th World Korean Business Convention in 2026, organized by the Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA).The decision was finalized on Apr. 17 (local time) during the steering committee meeting for the 23rd convention this year held in Atlanta, Georgia.As the premier global economic networking event for Korean entrepreneurs, the World Korean Business Convention welcomes 3,000 participants from 64 countries, including overseas Korean business leaders and domestic business owners. The event plays a pivotal role in supporting the global expansion of Korean SMEs and facilitating international business collaboration.With this latest success, Incheon will host the convention for the third time, following its two hostings in 2009 and 2018, marking a return to Songdo Convensia after eight years. This achievement holds particular significance as it is the first time the convention is held in Incheon after the launch of the OKA in June 2023.The city’s successful bid is the result of Incheon’s strategic campaign, including the hosting proposal highlighting the city’s strengths, such as business, investment, culture, and tourism, and the active promotion of the advanced MICE infrastructure in the Incheon Songdo International Conference Complex Zone (ICCZ). The convention also owes its success to the city’s diverse efforts, which include delivering Incheon’s will to host the event to leading overseas Korean business associations.The 2026 convention is set to take place over three days in April or October, with the detailed schedule to be confirmed in consultation with the OKA. Major facilities, including the main venue and surrounding hotels

- Sartorius shares updates and future plans for its $5.5 billion total investment in the Songdo facility -- Mayor Yoo: “Continued investment amid global uncertainty will drive the growth of Incheon’s bio industry”Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jung-bok) announced that Mayor Yoo received a delegation from Sartorius, a global leader in the biopharmaceutical industry (e.g., materials, parts, and equipment), at Incheon City Hall on the afternoon of the 8th.The meeting was held to discuss the current investment status and future plans of Sartorius' headquarters in Incheon, where the company is carrying out large-scale investments.A total of six individuals attended the meeting, including Dr. Joachim Kreuzburg, the current chairman of Sartorius, and Dr. Michael Grosse, the incoming chairman. Dr. Joachim Kreuzburg has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Sartorius since 2005 and will complete his term in June of this year. Dr. Michael Grosse is set to become the next Chairman of the Board and CEO in December 2024 and will officially assume the role in July.Sartorius is making a large-scale investment in a facility for the manufacture of core biopharmaceutical raw materials and process research at the Advanced Industrial Cluster (B) site in Songdo International City (211-1 Songdo-dong; 24,434 m²). After signing a land purchase agreement with Incheon in October 2022, the company began full-scale construction of the facility in January 2023.At the time of the 2022 agreement, Sartorius planned to invest $300 million, but later decided to invest an additional $250 million to expand its production, research, training, and contract testing facilities—bringing its total investment in Songdo to $550 million (approximately ₩781 billion).Amidst ongoing global trade tensions and growing uncertainty at home and abroad, Sartorius’ continued investment in Incheon this year marks a significant achievement.Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok stated, “

- A parenting participation program for 100 fathers with children between ages 3 to 9 -- A fatherhood project where dads grow together with their children through various programs from online missions to hands-on activities -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced its seventh recruitment of the ‘100 Papas of Incheon,’ a program jointly operated by the city and the Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association (KoPHWA) Incheon.‘100 Papas of Incheon’ is a participatory parenting support program for fathers with children between the ages of 3 to 9 (born between 2017 and 2022) who reside in Incheon. The program encourages fathers to actively participate in parenting and share their experiences by offering a variety of hands-on activities and parenting missions that can be enjoyed together with their children.The seventh class will accept a total of 100 participants, and applications will be accepted through Apr. 30. To apply, join the official ‘100 Papas of Incheon’ community (cafe.naver.com/100papa) and submit an application form. The selected participants will engage in a variety of activities with their children, including mentoring, experiential programs, weekly online missions, and a closing ceremony.Fathers who actively complete the weekly online missions will be eligible for recognition of awards with titles such as ‘Excellent Dad’ and ‘Best Dad.’ Among them, three fathers will be chosen as content creators to produce videos documenting their activities, which will be promoted through local media channels.Incheon Director of Women and Family Si Hyeon-jeong stated, “Incheon is actively supporting fathers' participation in childcare and is doing its best to make the city a great place to raise children.” She added, “We hope to further spread a happy family environment and shared parenting between couples.”※ Official community of ‘100 Papas of Incheon’: cafe.naver.com/100papaInquiries: KoPHWA Incheon (+82-32-451

- Performances to celebrate Incheon Culture Arts Center’s concerto hall reopening - Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that the Incheon Culture Arts Center will host three free performances in April and May to celebrate the reopening of its concerto hall. The concerto hall has reopened following partial improvements to the lobby and audience seats. The location of the spotlight booth has been adjusted to ensure optimal lighting angles. Seats have been equipped with color-changing LED fixtures to enhance production efficiency and diversity. The ceiling and back wall of the theater have been redesigned with a new structure. In the lobby, the existing marble has been replaced with a stucco finish to improve aesthetics and create a modern art space. New ticketing booths and seating charts have been installed for the convenience of performance organizers and audience members. Exploring New Possibilities Bridging Gaps Across Disabilities and Generations The performances were organized to showcase the newly renovated space to the public ahead of its full-scale operation and to check the overall operation of the venue, including its acoustics and other systems. Performances include the Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra’s “For Culture Leaders” on Apr. 18, Incheon City Disabled Arts Group’s “Together, Spring” on May 16, and Incheon Metropolitan City Theater Company’s “Lee Su-il and Shim Sun-ae” on May 24. The Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra Invites Musicophile ‘Culture Leaders’ The first performance will be held on Apr. 18 by the Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra. Titled “For Culture Leaders,” the performance aims to explore the new possibilities of small music venues with music lovers. It will feature a variety of programs, including classical music, opera, folk music, and film music, to provide a rich musical experience for the audience. Tenor Kim Ji-min, who is actively performing while training postgraduates, and vibraphone pla

- Residents can travel to Yeonpyeongdo Island for just KRW 1,500 and explore its message of peace and security -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) has announced the pilot launch of the “Lively City Policy: Treasure Island Field Trip – Yeonpyeongdo Island”, a new program linked to the Incheon i-Sea Pass—the nation’s first initiative allowing residents to travel to and from islands at the cost of a standard city bus fare (KRW 1,500).As the name “Treasure Island” suggests, the program aims to rediscover the unique value and charm of Incheon’s islands. Launched on April 1, the initiative extends the scope of city policy field trips from land to sea, offering participants a firsthand exploration of Incheon’s maritime heritage.Yeonpyeongdo Island, situated near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), is a frontline location in the West Sea where the stark memories of artillery attacks coexist with ongoing efforts for peace. Previously requiring an overnight stay, the Peace and Security Education Program at the Yeonpyeong Peace and Security Training Center has now been streamlined into a one-day course, significantly improving accessibility.The field trip includes a guided itinerary through key sites: the Security Education Center, Peace Park, Early History Museum, Sergeant Seo Jeong-wu’s Memorial, Peace Observatory, and the 7th Artillery Company. With vivid commentary from official supporters and expert lecturers, along with a security briefing by Yeonpyeong military personnel, participants gain a comprehensive, immersive understanding of the importance of peace and national security.One participant stated, “I was amazed that such a beautiful and historically significant island could be visited for just KRW 1,500. I look forward to exploring more of Incheon’s hidden islands and uncovering the untold stories of our region.”Since its launch in 2012, the Lively City Policy Field Trip has become one of Incheon’s flagship civic engagement progra

- “Korea’s Political Crisis: A Call for Constitutional Reform Toward Decentralization” -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, who also serves as Chairman of the Council of Governors of Korea, delivered a special lecture on April 2 at Chonnam National University under the theme, “Korea’s Political Crisis: A Call for Constitutional Reform Toward Decentralization.”The lecture was co-hosted by Chonnam National University and its Institute for Democracy and Community, and organized by the Institute.The event garnered significant attention, drawing approximately 100 attendees, including Chonnam National University students and members of the public. During his address, Mayor Yoo identified the outdated 1987 Constitution as a core factor behind the country’s ongoing political instability and socio-economic challenges, stressing the urgent need for constitutional reform centered on decentralization.Mayor Yoo presented several key themes, including “constitutional reform for decentralization,” “innovative restructuring of government systems,” and “balanced national development through enhanced administrative efficiency.” He stated, “Now that we have a strong social consensus, this is the best opportunity for constitutional revision. We must lay the foundation for a better future for the Korean people by fundamentally restructuring political power and national governance.”Prior to the lecture, Mayor Yoo visited the May 18 National Cemetery in Gwangju, where he paid tribute to the spirit of democracy by laying a wreath, observing a moment of silence, and offering incense in remembrance.Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok delivers a lecture at Chonnam National University on the theme “Korea’s Political Crisis: A Call for Constitutional Reform Toward Decentralization.”