- Tree-planting event held in Mongolia on May 21, highlighting the global model for fine dust reduction and climate diplomacy -After 19 years of development by the Incheon Metropolitan City, the Incheon Hope Forest project is now delivering tangible results toward carbon neutrality and establishing itself as a key model for responding to the climate crisis in Northeast Asia.The city held the “2026 Incheon Hope Forest” tree-planting event on May 21 at an afforestation site in Songino Khairkhan District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Approximately 100 participants—including 29 student and citizen volunteers from Incheon, officials from both countries, and local Mongolian students—gathered to plant around 1,000 pine trees.The event was designed not only to bring new life to Mongolia—regarded as one of the major sources of fine dust affecting Korea—but also to serve as a meaningful educational opportunity to raise awareness among future generations regarding the seriousness of climate change. Participants delivered a message of environmental solidarity beyond national borders by conducting anti-desertification activities alongside the tree planting.The Incheon Hope Forest project began in 2008 through the citizen-led “Planting Hope Trees to Prevent Yellow Dust” campaign. What started as a small-scale civic initiative gradually expanded with administrative and financial support from the city government, growing over the past 19 years into a massive green zone covering 157 hectares.This area is larger than 220 soccer fields combined, accounting for approximately 54% of the total area of Seoul's Yeouido. The project laid the foundation for creating a vast “green barrier” in the barren Mongolian desert through the efforts of Incheon citizens, with a total of approximately 250,000 trees having taken root there to date.The long-running afforestation project is now proving its value through measurable data. The city expects the Incheon Hope Forest project to reduc

- Model of coexistence between international organizations in Songdo and local government, linking community support through the city’s welfare platform -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it held the “2nd Food Donation Event” on May 20 at the Namdong-gu Senior Welfare Center in cooperation with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to support low-income elderly residents living alone in the city.Serving as a leading model of regional coexistence, the event is promoted through cooperation between the city and international organizations based in Incheon; this year marks its second iteration following last year’s inaugural event. The city government became the bridge, matching voluntary resources from GCF and other organizations with local welfare needs. Calvin Manitoba International School (CMIS) also continued its participation from last year, further establishing the initiative as an exemplary public-private cooperation model that puts climate solidarity and community contribution into practice.The donated items were collected over the course of March through the active participation of GCF employees as well as students and faculty members from CMIS. A total of 52 boxes of donations were gathered through these collective efforts, marking a significant increase in scale compared to last year thanks to the participants’ continued solidarity.The donations consisted of 1,714 food items including canned goods and sterilized milk. These items will provide practical support for the daily lives of senior citizens, and they will be distributed sequentially to low-income elderly households living alone in the community through the Namdong-gu Senior Welfare Center.Established at G-Tower in Songdo in 2013, GCF is Korea’s first international organization dedicated to responding to the climate crisis. The organization currently employs approximately 400 global professionals. Through this event, it is expanding its role beyond environmental sustainability to include soc

- Largest edition ever to be held at Songdo Convensia from June 17 to 19, featuring 200 companies and 500 booths -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that the “2026 Korea Ocean Expo”—the only marine-specializing exhibition in the Seoul metropolitan area—will be held for three days from June 17 to 19 at Songdo Convensia in Incheon.Hosted by Incheon Metropolitan City and Korea Coast Guard and organized by the Incheon Tourism Organization and Reed K. Fairs, the exhibition has continued to grow remarkably since its launch in 2013. The 2024 event achieved its best performance to date with approximately 200 participating companies and more than 17,000 visitors. This year’s exhibition will showcase even more extensive business programs and citizen participation events than last year, with the goal of satisfying companies, buyers, and general visitors alike.In addition to shipbuilding, vessels, marine safety, and other existing sectors, the exhibition will place special focus on future marine technologies including AI, autonomous navigation, and eco-friendly vessels. Approximately 200 domestic and international companies in shipbuilding and advanced marine equipment—including HD Hyundai and KT SAT—will participate across 500 booths, providing visitors with a comprehensive look at the present and future of marine and shipbuilding industries.In particular, this year’s event involves collaborating with KOTRA for the first time to invite procurement officials from overseas maritime law enforcement agencies in more than 20 countries, as well as representatives from private import and export companies. The exhibition will provide participating companies with practical export consultation opportunities while also expanding purchasing consultation programs with procurement officials from the Korea Coast Guard and domestic shipyards to maximize business outcomes.More than 20 specialized seminars including the “KORMARINE Conference—one of the representative confer

Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it held the “19th Together Day Ceremony” on May 17 at Incheon Aetteul Plaza.Celebrated annually on May 20, Together Day is a legally designated commemorative day established under the Framework Act on the Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea to promote understanding of and respect for different cultures and traditions and to foster a society where Korean nationals and foreign residents live together in harmony. Marking its 19th anniversary this year, the event was organized as a venue for harmony and interaction where foreign residents and citizens could come together.Approximately 1,200 foreign residents and citizens attended the event, alongside officials including Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs Ha Byeong-pil, Commissioner Park Jae-wan of the Incheon Immigration and Foreigners Office, Head of Global Citizenship Education Kim Woo-jong at the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education, and representatives of foreign resident organizations.Held prior to the official ceremony were pre-event performances featuring a traditional Nepalese dance and the Incheon Global Choir. On the other hand, during the commemorative ceremony, recommendations were presented to individuals who contributed to helping foreign residents settle in local communities and advancing social integration. The ceremony was followed by a congratulatory performance by the Uiseon Chinese Traditional Performance Group, adding a layer of significance to the event.A total of 16 experiential and promotional booths were also operated at the venue, allowing participants to experience cultures from around the world. Participants had the opportunity to experience directly traditional and everyday cultures from various countries while enjoying international foods and traditional games, naturally engaging with diverse cultures.The Together Day Drawing Contest was also held as an accompanying event, encouraging children to express their percept

Incheon Metropolitan City and Incheon Tourism Organization announced that they have selected 15 promising companies that will lead the tourism industry through the “2026 Incheon Tourism Startup Contest.”The contest targeted tourism-related startups established within the past seven years as well as prospective entrepreneurs, with the recruitment conducted across six categories: ▲ Preliminary (prospective entrepreneurs), ▲ Early Stage (within three years of establishment), ▲ Growth Stage (within three ~ seven years of establishment), ▲ Regional Coexistence (tourism venture companies certified by the Korea Tourism Organization or startups certified by tourism business support centers in other regions), ▲ Growth Plus+ I (companies seeking advanced-stage support after completing the Incheon Tourism Business Support Center’s startup-fostering program), and ▲ Growth Plus+ II (graduates of the Growth Plus+ program from 2024 to 2025).A total of 125 companies applied, recording a competition ratio of 8.3 to 1. Following document screening and presentation evaluations, 15 companies demonstrating innovation potential and strong execution capabilities in the tourism sector were ultimately selected.Early Stage selectees were SconAI (AI interpretation services), San Bong Woori (island tours for young adults), Glory (eco-friendly MICE packages), and Neulsol (Ganghwa tourism merchandise).The Growth Stage Startup category includes Gaehangro Injeolmi and Sochang Gallery (Sochang-themed souvenirs), and Baba Ground (specialized rural tourism packages).FOCC (history and fragrance tours) was selected in the Regional Coexistence category together with Growth Plus+ I welcoming Contemplative (local beverage brand), Geumpung Brewery (wellness sleep-healing tours), Minikhan Camping Mobility (island car camping tours), and In the Local (tourism souvenir select shop). Finally, AD Labs (tourist marketing solutions) was selected for Growth Plus+ II. These startups are expected t

- Customized information provided in six languages, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Myanmar, and Uzbek -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it has distributed local tax guide leaflets produced in six languages to improve convenience for foreign residents paying local taxes.As of March 2026, 95,898 foreign residents were registered in Incheon. The largest groups by nationality are Chinese (14.3%), Vietnamese (10.6%), Myanmar nationals (5.5%), Uzbeks (4.3%), and Mongolians (3.4%). As tax delinquencies among foreign residents are spread across a wide range of nationalities, the need for customized guidance to overcome language barriers has continued to be raised.The newly produced guide leaflets are available in six languages—Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Myanmar, and Uzbek—and include explanations of major local taxes such as resident tax and automobile tax, as well as payment methods. The leaflets also explain potential disadvantages resulting from tax delinquency, including restrictions on visa extensions, seizure of property and claims, and impoundment of vehicle license plates, in order to help foreign taxpayers better understand their obligations.To improve foreign residents’ understanding of local taxes, Incheon plans to place the leaflets at frequently visited institutions such as Multicultural Family Support Centers and Foreign Resident Support Centers. The city also plans to actively promote local tax payment methods by directly visiting related organizations.Incheon has also implemented the “Local Tax Delinquency Verification System Prior to Visa Extension,” which restricts visa extensions for delinquent foreign taxpayers. The city is pursuing delinquencies with the same level of enforcement applied to Korean nationals, including the garnishment of foreign worker insurance benefits (such as departure maturity payments and return travel funds) and dormant insurance funds.“We produced these multilingual guide leaflets to prevent cases i

- Project to improve park accessibility and convenience by reconnecting the interrupted green corridor; completion targeted for May next year -The Incheon Grand Park Office of Incheon Metropolitan City announced that construction on a pedestrian greenway* connecting Zones 2 and 3 of Central Park will begin on May 13 as part of the Central Park revitalization project.* Pedestrian Greenway: A pedestrian greenway refers to a landscaped pedestrian walkway where vehicle access is prohibited.Established in 2005, Central Park is the only belt-shaped park in Incheon, stretching 3.9 kilometers in length and 100 meters in width from Gwangyo-dong in Michuhol-gu to Ganseok-dong in Namdong-gu. The park has long served as a major urban green corridor and one of the city’s representative recreational spaces.However, because Central Park is divided into nine separate zones, park users have experienced inconvenience when moving between sections, as they were required to use pedestrian crosswalks. To address this issue, Incheon installed two pedestrian greenways, Gaongyo Bridge and Wolungyo Bridge, in 2020, receiving positive evaluations in user satisfaction surveys.In particular, citizens noted improvements in internal circulation routes and pedestrian safety within the park, leading the city government to pursue an additional project connecting Zones 2 and 3 of Central Park.The new pedestrian greenway will connect Zones 2 and 3 of Central Park through a steel pipe girder bridge measuring 3.5 meters in width, with a main bridge span of 38 meters and a total length of 111 meters. The project will be carried out with a total budget of KRW 4.3 billion.The project is designed to naturally reconnect the park’s green corridor, allowing citizens to move more freely throughout the park while ensuring safe and convenient access for all users, including transportation-vulnerable groups. Beyond its functional role as a connection route, the greenway will also feature a design that harmoniz

- Focus on preventing violations in advance through information sharing and joint inspections in the environmental sector -Incheon Metropolitan City signed an MOU with the Korea Environment Corporation’s Seoul Western Regional Headquarters on May 8 at the corporation’s conference room in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, to create a cleaner urban environment and jointly respond to environmental risk factors.The agreement was signed to strengthen the management of businesses with potential environmental pollution risks and establish a cooperative framework between the two organizations for preventing environmental violations and developing effective response measures.Under the agreement, the two organizations will cooperate in various areas, including sharing analytical information on waste treatment, conducting joint inspections of businesses suspected of causing air pollution, sharing response measures for businesses subject to frequent complaints, and transferring techniques related to integrated environmental monitoring systems.“This agreement is meaningful in that it establishes a foundation for strengthening the environmental pollution management system,” said Choi Jong-mun, Head of the Incheon Special Judicial Police Division. “We will continue working closely with the Korea Environment Corporation to create a safer and cleaner Incheon that citizens can truly experience.” 

- Public-private partnership applies brokerage fees of 2% or lower to ease the financial burden on small business owners -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it signed a public-private partnership agreement on May 6 with Mukkebi, Shinhan Bank and Kona I to launch a public delivery app service aimed at easing the burden on small business owners struggling with high commission fees charged by private delivery platforms and revitalizing the local economy.The public delivery app service is designed to improve the profit structure of small business owners affected by private delivery platform brokerage fees of up to 7.8%. By linking the service with the Incheon eum local currency payment system (Incheon Love Gift Certificate), the city also aims to promote local consumption and establish a sustainable delivery ecosystem that benefits both small business owners and citizens.Under the agreement, small business owners using public delivery apps such as “Mukkebi,” “Ddangyo,” and “Baedal e-Um” will be subject to brokerage fees of 2% or lower, which is expected to significantly reduce their operating costs. Incheon plans to establish a virtuous cycle of local consumption by integrating payment services with the Incheon eum local currency system (Incheon Love Gift Certificate).“This project is a win-win policy that reduces burdens on small business owners while enhancing convenience for citizens,” said Kim Sang-gil, Director of the Incheon Economic and Industrial Bureau. “We will closely manage the overall operation of the service so that it can become a sustainable platform that both small business owners and citizens can genuinely benefit from.”

- 126-space parking facility near Sinpo-dong and Chinatown improves convenience for residents and tourists -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it officially began operating the Open Port Public Parking Lot in May to address chronic parking shortages in the Sinpo-dong and Chinatown areas of Jung-gu.Located at 2-1 Hang-dong 4-ga in Jung-gu, the Open Port Public Parking Lot was developed in an area with high parking demand due to its proximity to Sinpo-dong’s key commercial district and Chinatown, one of Incheon’s leading tourist destinations.The city expects the new parking facility to improve convenience for visitors to the Open Port area while helping resolve longstanding issues related to illegal parking and traffic safety risks.The parking facility was constructed with a total project cost of approximately KRW 5.6 billion funded by national and municipal budgets. Built as a two-story, three-level above-ground structure, it occupies a site area of 2,174.1 square meters with a total floor area of 2,937.91 square meters and provides a total of 126 parking spaces.To enhance convenience for users, the parking lot will be operated free of charge until June 30, 2026, after which it will transition to paid operation beginning July 1, 2026. Under the paid system, parking fees will follow Incheon’s public parking fee structure: KRW 600 for the first 30 minutes, KRW 300 for each additional 15 minutes, and KRW 6,000 for all-day parking.In addition to the Open Port Public Parking Lot project, Incheon is pursuing various measures to address parking shortages experienced by citizens, including the expansion of public parking facilities through fiscal investment, the development of parking facilities within school complex projects, the activation of parking-sharing platforms, and the establishment of smart parking systems.“With the establishment of the public parking lot in the Open Port and Chinatown areas, we expect citizens and tourists to be able to use the old