Bioventures and start-ups... More job opportunities, and a stimulated local economy Incheon will get a new opportunity to advance to the forefront of Korea’s bio-industry thanks to its successful bid to host the “K-Bio Lab Hub,” a specialized support organization for start-ups in the bio industry. On July 9, Incheon was selected as the final winner of the bid for the “K-Bio Lab Hub Construction Project” commissioned by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.In particular, with all of the groundwork for a robust bio-industry already laid in Incheon, along with the city’s new “Bioengineering Personnel Training Center” (Incheon’s won the bid for the Center last year), building the “Incheon Bio Cluster” and the collaboration between industry, academia, research, and medicine are expected to gain more momentum. ▲ On July 9, Incheon was selected as the final winner of the bid for the “K-Bio Lab Hub Construction Project” commissioned by the Ministry of SMEs and Start-ups. On July 9, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups reviewed proposals made by five local governments, including Incheon, Gyeongsangnam-do, Daejeon, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Jeollabuk-do, and ultimately settled on Incheon as its new locale for the K-Bio Lab Hub project.The K-Bio Lab Hub project involves building a specialized support infrastructure for start-ups in the biotechnology field, such as new drug development, to help nurture bio start-ups.The K-Bio Lab Hub is based loosely on Lab Central, a Boston-based bio-startup support organization. Essentially, it is an infrastructure construction project aimed at offering a comprehensive range of support in terms of the facilities and equipment necessary for bio start-ups may require. It will also invite start-ups to move into the Hub, and provide the infrastructure required in experimenting, researching, producing clinical prototypes, and cooperating with other stakeholders in the industry, academia, research, and medicine.With the K-Bio La

Incheon works with Tmap to build a smart parking lot system with automatic payment options The Incheon Metropolitan City Government agreed to work with Tmap Mobility to upgrade its public parking lots and make parking lots much more user-friendly.Incheon will start building a “smart parking system” aimed at making parking lots within its jurisdiction more convenient and accessible for local users. ▲ The Incheon Metropolitan City Government agreed to work with Tmap Mobility to upgrade its public parking lots and make parking lots much more user-friendly. Incheon will start building a “smart parking system” aimed at making parking lots within its jurisdiction more convenient and accessible for local users. Incheon signed a memorandum of understanding with Tmap Mobility in November 2020 to create a “smart parking system.” In March 2021, it followed its MOU with Tmap Mobility up by announcing a comprehensive plan for public parking lots (2021~2025) to improve parking problems across the city, and to build a smart environment for public parking lots.The “smart parking system” is an automated (unmanned) system that enables users to search, pay, and access current parking space information all through a dedicated smartphone app.With this new smart parking system, when the user’s vehicle enters a public parking lot, the parking control sensor recognizes the vehicle’s number plate, and when the user’s vehicle exits a parking lot, the system charges the appropriate parking fee to the user’s credit card, which can be registered in the app in advance.Starting with the parking lot attached to the Metropolitan City Government office headquarters on July 6, Incheon will open the “Tmap Parking” service and its smart parking system to the public. Incheon expects to upgrade more than 350 public (paid) outdoor parking lots across the city with the new smart parking system by 2023.​ ▲With Incheon’s new smart parking system, when the user’s vehicle

A milestone in successful public-private cooperation, new power plant to supply energy to 87,000 households On July 2, Incheon Fuel Cell Co., Ltd. celebrated the opening of its new power plant in Dong-gu, Incheon. The Incheon Fuel Cell Power Plant is expected to generate 320 million kWh of electricity annually, most of which will supply 87,000 households in the Dong-gu area. The power plant will also supply thermal energy for more than 26,000 households. Incheon hailed the Incheon Fuel Cell Power Plant in Dong-gu as the product of successful communication and cooperation between the Dong-gu Administrative Office, the public emergency operational committee, and other relevant private sector vendors. ▲The Incheon Fuel Cell Power Plant is expected to generate 320 million kWh of electricity annually, most of which will supply 87,000 households in the Dong-gu area. The power plant will also supply thermal energy for more than 26,000 households. Photo of the Incheon Fuel Cell Power Plant, which opened on July 2. Incheon Mayor Park Namchoon, Vice Minister Park Jin-kyu (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy), National Assembly man Huh Jong-sik, National Assemblyman Lee Seong-man, and Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) President Chung Jae-hoon attended the event along with local residents to mark the new beginning of fuel cell power generation in Incheon. The Dong-gu hydrogen fuel cell power plant project began back in June 2017 when the Incheon Metropolitan City Government, Dong-gu Office, KHNP, Doosan, Samchully, and Incheon Total Energy signed a memorandum of understanding. Construction, however, was suspended in January 2019 due to ongoing conflicts with local residents regarding the safety of the power plant. To address this issue, the Incheon Metropolitan City Government helped the public emergency operational committee, Dong-gu Office, and private sector participants create a consultative group tasked with finding a compromise between the different stakeholders

Incheon launches smart tourism platform “Incheon Easy” with reservation and restaurant information services The Incheon Metropolitan City Government and Incheon Tourism Organization launched the new “Incheon Easy Smart Tourism Platform.” The new app allows users to enjoy the Incheon Open Port area smarter and more conveniently than ever with one centralized app. In September 2020, Incheon was selected as Korea’s first “smart tourism” city. Incheon Easy is an ICT-based smart travel application developed by a consortium of nine public and private vendors, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, Jung-gu Office, and Incheon Tourism Organization, as part of the smart tourism city project. The app is currently available for free in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. ▲ The Incheon Metropolitan City Government and Incheon Tourism Organization launched the new “Incheon Easy Smart Tourism Platform.” The new app allows users to enjoy the Incheon Open Port area smarter and more convenient than ever with one centralized app. Personalized artificial intelligence-powered recommendations Using the artificial intelligence-powered recommendation service available on the Incheon Easy app,you can create a personalized “travel pass” recommendation based on your travel preferences, specific routes, desired date, and type of travel companion by answering a simple questionnaire. Of course, you can tweak your travel pass according to the parameters you need. Once your travel pass is created,the Incheon Easy app recommends a customized travel guide book and optimal route information. You check up on nearby restaurants, cafes, tourist destinations, and accommodations on a map, and enjoy smart convenience services (e.g. audio guide, coupon and payment service, luggage storage, mobility, etc.) that are available for each location. Simply put, the Incheon Easy app is a one-stop, personalized travel assistant. Every conven

Selected for ‘Plastic substitute material parts…’ from Ministry of Trade, Industry and EnergyIncheon was selected consecutively for Government’s public offer businesses related to ‘White Bio Industry Promotion Strategy’ which was announced on April 9. They announced being selected for the final executing organization for the ‘Establishment of support centers for parts and device business for plastic substitute materials’ from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 21st. The ‘Establishment business for foundation of Industry Innovation’ from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is a business provided to support facility and equipment for the core industry technology, enabling the industry and academia and research sectors to utilize jointly.​▲ Nam-Chun Park, the Incheon mayor is leading a ‘Video conference related to presentation of the promotion strategy for White-Bio Business’ that took place in the City Hall Reception room on the 9th.The ‘Support center for material parts and equipment business for plastic substitute material’ is going to be constructed on the Incheon University site which a total business expense of KRW 15 billion (National expense KRW 7 billion, Incheon investment of KRW 1.5 billion, and private investment of KRW 6.5 billion) will be invested until 2025. The participating institutions are Korea Conformity Laboratories (KCL), Incheon National University, Korea Petrochemical Industry Association (KPBMA) and Korea Plastic Industry Cooperative Federation.Incheon is planning to establish test evaluation infrastructure to perform biodegradability assessment in various environments (soil, ocean, water system, and anaerobic environment), ecotoxicity assessment of decomposition products, and biomass content assessment for confirming plastic greenhouse gas reduction effect. They are also going to build a bio-waste facility to demonstrate a virtuous cycle ecosystem of biodegradable plastic production-disposa

10% Cashback up to KRW 500 thousand per month, and Pick-up Service is also availablePublic delivery service ‘Delivery e-EUM’ will be extended to all areas of Incheon from coming July. City, Guns (Counties) and Districts all join to implement as a support policy for the small businesses in an effort to boost the local economy and strengthen the local community.Incheon signed the ‘Delivery e-EUM Activation Agreement’ of the above contend with 10 Guns and Districts. This agreement is a follow-up for the extension to all of Incheon area for the public delivery service which was talked about in the governors and mayors of Gu meeting which was held in March. ​▲ Public delivery service ‘Delivery e-EUM’ will be available in all parts of Incheon beginning in July. It is implemented as support policy for small businesses in an effort to boost local economy and strengthen the local community. The picture shows the Incheon public delivery service ‘Delivery e-EUM’ launch agreement ceremony.The agreement is to extend the ‘Incheon e-EUM public delivery service’ which has been running in Seo-gu and Yeonsu-gu as pilot operation, to all areas of Incheon. The Incheon e-EUM call delivery service that has been operating since 2019 was reorganized and combined.The Incheon e-EUM ‘Call delivery service’ that had been operating since 2019 was reorganized as ‘Delivery e-EUM’ and combined. This service is going to be extended to all areas of Incheon starting in July.The ‘Delivery e-EUM service’ a public delivery service within the Incheon e-EUM platform which 1.5 million citizens made on-line payment of KRW 6 trillion. Any subscribed member can make on-line payment through Incheon e-EUM app and can receive delivery of food ordered through delivery or pick-up service.​The users can receive 10% cash back up to accumulated KRW 500 thousand per month, as well as discount from members of Benefit Plus, additional cash back and coupons from Guns and Districts. T

Citizen participation, Park creation, History documentation etc. are being launched▲ Even after the decision on return of Camp Market was made (2003), the return had been delayed for 16 years from difference between the Korean and the US two parties on environmental pollution cleaning issue. Incheon which received Camp Market back in December 2019 has been working hard in restrictive conditions. The picture shows the US Army Corps of Engineers facility in ASCOM City of Bupyeong Camp Market.Incheon has prepared a ‘Welcome to Future 10-year Roadmap of Bupyeong Camp Market’ which consists of schedules and work to be done from the point of return of Bupyeong US Military base (Camp Market).After the decision on return of Camp Market was made, the return had been delayed for 16 years from difference between the Korean and the US two parties on environmental pollution cleaning issue. Incheon, which had Camp Market returned in December of 2019, has been working hard in spite of restrictive conditions. These conditions are: ▲ Large amount of land purchase cost (approximately KRW 500 billion) ▲ Quick launch of earth contamination cleansing (June 2019) ▲ Boundary fences of the unreturned area and temporary opening ▲ Community opinion survey ▲ Having no ownership on the road construction and illegal buildings maintenance.The roadmap established work strategy for each period (past/ present/ future) and contains: ▲ Release and return of the US Miliary Service area ▲ Communication in the community and how to use ▲ (4 steps) Park building plan and construction plans. ​▲ Incheon prepared ‘Welcome to Future 10-year Roadmap of Camp Market in Bupyeong’ which contains schedule and work plans from the return of the Bupyeong US Military base and until completion of the park construction. The picture is a part of the roadmap.Also, for plans for each sector include: ▲ Community public opinion promotion plan ▲ Participation governance establishment plan ▲

Incheon chooses “Incheon’s 40 Years of Independence, a History of Pride and a Future of Hope” as slogan for upcoming eventAt a citizens’ advisory panel meeting for the “Incheon Independence 40th Anniversary Event,” the Incheon Metropolitan City Government agreed on a slogan for the event and a new name for the old mayoral residence (“Incheon Citizens’ House”).On May 4, Incheon hosted the second citizens’ advisory panel meeting (the Incheon Independence 40th Anniversary Event), featuring experts on the history of Incheon, city/administrative experts, event/planning experts, members of the general public, and representatives of various civic groups, to choose both the slogan for the event and a name for the former mayoral residence.▲ View of the old mayoral residence in Songhak-dong. Based on results from a local referendum, Incheon will renovate the former mayoral residence into the Incheon Citizens’ House. Incheon held a local referendum for the event slogan options discussed at the panel’s first meeting and new name of the former mayoral residence from May 12 to May 21 (ten days).445 citizens participated in the online voting for the slogan to headline the event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Incheon’s independence and the name of the old mayoral residence.Voters chose Incheon Citizens’ House as the new name of the old mayoral residence.▲Main gate of the Songhak-dong residence, which was used as the official residence of the Mayor of Incheon.​​​▲The former mayor of Songhak-dong, Jeong Cho-seok Furthermore, the advisory panel confirmed the “event identity” (EI) for the “Incheon Independence 40th Anniversary Event.”The option selected by the advisory panel consists of three ocean-colored water droplets. Here, the color represents the sea off the coast of Incheon, and the three water droplets symbolize the past, present, and future of the city. In particular, the wave-like pattern hearkens back to the proud and comp

ICA secures contract for “Oull Honey Twinkle Mask Pack,” and expects to increase exports to ChinaThe Incheon Metropolitan City Government recently announced its “Four Year (2021~2024) Plan to Revitalize Incheon’s Beauty Industry” (hereinafter the “Plan”) to create a springboard that can propel the city’s beauty industry to new heights.Incheon listened to feedback from market participants across the beauty industry in Incheon, and reflected its findings in the “K-Beauty Innovation Comprehensive Strategy” announced by the central government on January 27 this year. The City Government also hosted the “Incheon Beauty Industry Revitalization Conference” to gather input from the industry.Using the Plan, Incheon hopes to fulfill its vision of creating an economic growth engine and positioning itself as a leading city in the beauty category by elevating beauty-related businesses to make sure they have the capacity to generate higher added value. Moreover, the City Government plans to revitalize the currently stagnant cosmetics market in Incheon and lay the groundwork for a new leap forward for Incheon’s beauty industry.▲​​​ The Incheon Metropolitan City Government recently announced its “Four Year (2021~2024) Plan to Revitalize Incheon’s Beauty Industry” to create a springboard that can propel the city’s beauty industry to new heights. The photo from a product briefing session at Oull Cosmetics in 2019. Meanwhile, the Plan includes the following promotional strategies and key initiatives:Support the growth of the beauty industry: ① Develop “beauty star” companies; ② Offer counseling for managerial and technical issues; ③ Support clinical trials; ④ Help identify potential markets (domestic/overseas); ⑤ Develop K-beauty industry experts; ⑥ Support testing, evaluation, and certification activities; ⑦ Support online marketing initiatives. With such support, the government will look to identify beauty companies with su

With its Grand Hall and Museum set to open in 2025, Art Center Incheon to rise in popularity as shooting locations for TV serials and programs​The Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) is eying its next leap forward as an international city of culture and art with the Art Center Incheon.Already two and a half years into its life, Art Center Incheon has built quite a reputation on the domestic performing arts scene with its spectacular lineup of performances, unrivaled sound, and planning capacity. The Center has also introduced a variety of cultural and arts education programs to provide citizens with opportunities to enjoy culture.Art Center Incheon is fulfilling its role in satiating the thirst for more culture and art among Incheon’s citizens, who expect more sophisticated lifestyles living in an international city (IFEZ). Once Incheon opens the Center’s Grand Hall and Museum, both of which are part of Art Center Incheon’s second phase, by the end of 2025, Art Center Incheon is expected to strengthen the cultural competence of IFEZ, and become a driving force propelling Incheon as a city of culture and art.▲Art Center Incheon has built quite a reputation on the domestic performing arts scene with its spectacular lineup of performances, unrivaled sound, and planning capacity. The Center has also introduced a variety of cultural and arts education programs to provide citizens with opportunities to enjoy culture. For the first phase of the Center, Incheon invested KRW 260 billion, and opened the 9-story (two stories in the basement, seven stories above ground/total floor area 51,977m2) building with a total seating capacity hall of 1,727 seats inside its Concert Hall.The exterior of Art Center Incheon, which was designed to mimic a maestro’s hand conducting an orchestra, has helped the Center become Incheon’s premier performance facility and a landmark of Songdo International City. It has a color-exposed concrete construction facade, and it is designed to