- Prioritizing rapid chargers in urban and residential hubs; ensuring project stability through joint participation in government-funded initiatives -On April 15, the Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to accelerate the expansion of its electric vehicle (EV) charging network and strengthen cooperation with the private sector, in response to growing charging demand driven by the increasing adoption of EVs.The signing ceremony was attended by the Director of the Incheon Future Industry Bureau and representatives from major charging service providers, including Hyundai Motors, Kia, GS Charge V, and Chaevi. The parties signed a public-private agreement to support the successful implementation of the “2026 Incheon EV Charging Infrastructure Expansion Project.”The agreement is designed to actively leverage private-sector investment and operational expertise to expand charging infrastructure focused on rapid chargers. It also includes plans to jointly participate with selected operators in EV charging infrastructure projects led by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment.Under the agreement, an efficient implementation framework will be established through a clear division of roles: Incheon Metropolitan City will oversee overall project management and provide administrative support. At the same time, private operators will be responsible for installing and operating charging facilities.In particular, the city aims to reduce the financial burden while accelerating infrastructure expansion by leveraging expertise and investment from the private sector through proactive administration.The project will focus on key urban and residential hubs, prioritizing the installation of rapid chargers in high-demand areas to create a more convenient and efficient charging environment for citizens.In addition, by linking the project with central government initiatives to secure national funding, the c

- Course passing through Cheongnahaneuldaegyo Bridge under review, connecting urban and coastal landscapes -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that “Incheon Marathon 2026,” co-hosted with the Korea Association of Athletics Federations and co-organized by the Incheon Metropolitan City Sports Council and the Incheon Athletics Federation, will be held on November 22. The city plans to further enhance the event’s competitiveness by introducing a unique course that connects urban and marine environments, including a route incorporating the Cheongnahaneuldaegyo Bridge.Now in its second year, the Incheon Marathon demonstrated its potential to become a leading international marathon in the metropolitan area following the successful inaugural event last year. This year, the race will return with further improvements, enhancing both participant convenience and course competitiveness.To ensure systematic safety management and operational efficiency in handling large crowds, the gathering venue has been relocated to the Incheon Asiad Main Stadium. The event will feature three categories: full marathon (42.195 km), 10 km, and 5 km.In particular, the city is reviewing a one-way full marathon course that passes through the Cheongnahaneuldaegyo Bridge, one of Incheon’s key landmarks. If finalized, participants will be able to experience a unique race that combines the dynamism of the city with the scenic beauty of the West Sea coastline.In line with its status as Incheon’s only full-course marathon, the scale of the event will also be expanded. A total of 20,000 participants are expected, with the number of full marathon runners increasing from 6,000 last year to approximately 8,000 to meet growing demand from amateur runners.Support measures will also be strengthened to enhance the quality of the event and athletic performance. To boost morale among domestic elite athletes, the total prize money for the domestic division will be increased from KRW

- Sharing latest technology trends, including Geo-Physical AI, and strengthening intelligent administrative foundations -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that it held the “1st Spatial Information Innovation Idea Conference of 2026” on April 14, with approximately 50 participants, including city and district officials and related experts.The conference, which began in 2024 as a “collective intelligence-based spatial information consultative body,” marks its third year in 2026. This year’s event was particularly significant as a collaborative platform where the city and its districts worked together to translate the vision of “Spatial Intelligence AI City, Incheon” into practical implementation and explore ways to integrate advanced technologies into administrative processes.The conference opened with a special lecture by an expert on emerging trends in spatial information technologies. In particular, the introduction of Geo-Physical AI (cognitive spatial intelligence) solutions and precision data analysis tools drew strong interest, serving as an opportunity to demonstrate the practical applicability of AI in complex administrative decision-making.This was followed by the presentation of an enhanced “i Map” service, which incorporates 3D mesh data and user-customized analysis functions. Participants also shared plans for an integrated management system enabling the joint use of drone imagery by the city and its districts. Through these discussions, the city outlined detailed directions for system improvements while establishing a foundation for close collaboration by reviewing concrete implementation measures.During the brainstorming session, participants exchanged ideas on innovative ways to apply new technologies to city administration to deliver services that citizens can directly experience. The ideas proposed during the session will be actively reflected in the city’s future spatial information policy development and

- Phased installation at Bupyeong Station, Incheon Terminal Station, Technopark Station, Gyeyang Station, and Geomam Station -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that it will sequentially install unmanned currency exchange kiosks at five major Incheon Subway stations from April to May as part of its initiative to improve living conditions as a global city.Incheon is home to approximately 169,000 foreign residents—the fourth-largest foreign population in Korea. The number of inbound foreign tourists in 2024 also increased by 43% year-on-year to approximately 1.03 million, accompanied by a steady rise in demand for currency exchange services. * Inbound Foreign Tourists to Incheon: 2023: 717,058 → 2024: 1,031,287(Source: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, International Visitor Survey)In response, the city signed an agreement with the Incheon Transit Corporation in November last year to improve living conditions as part of its global city initiative. Incheon is now promoting the phased implementation of unmanned currency exchange kiosks alongside financial education programs for foreign residents.The kiosks were first installed on April 13 at high-traffic stations—Bupyeong Station, Incheon Bus Terminal Station, and Technopark Station—with additional installations scheduled at Gyeyang Station and Geomam Station in May.Key features include the ability to exchange currencies from up to 15 countries into Korean Won (KRW), as well as the purchase of major currencies such as U.S. Dollars (USD) and Japanese Yen (JPY). Users can also load foreign currency to a card using a mobile application. The kiosks further provide barrier-free services, including Braille buttons and voice assistance.Currently, 24 unmanned currency exchange machines are in operation across Incheon; however, many are concentrated in hotels (17 locations) and Incheon International Airport, limiting accessibility.The installation of kiosks within subway stations is expected

- Adjustment of address and postal districts to align with a new two-county, nine-district system -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that it held a “Related Agencies Briefing on National Basic District Adjustment” on April 8 to share proposed adjustments to national basic districts and to strengthen inter-agency cooperation.The meeting was organized to raise awareness of the need for adjustments ahead of the administrative restructuring set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and to ensure the stable implementation of the system through collaboration among relevant institutions.National basic districts are sub-administrative units that divide the national territory into areas smaller than eup, myeon, and dong, based on the road name address system. They serve as a common foundational unit across various sectors, including postal services, statistics, policing, and firefighting. In particular, they are closely tied to daily life, as they have been used in the five-digit postal code system implemented since 2015.During the meeting, discussions focused on preemptively adjusting national basic districts in response to the expansion of Incheon’s administrative structure from two counties and eight districts to two counties and nine districts.Key proposals included the reconfiguration of national basic districts for Jemulpo-gu, which will be newly established through the integration of parts of Jung-gu and Dong-gu; Yeongjong-gu, which will be separated from Jung-gu’s Yeongjong area; and Geomdan-gu and Seohae-gu, which will be created through the division of Seo-gu. Most notably, the adjustment plan considers both mid- to long-term urban changes and future development demand, including the division of Geomdan-gu and Seohae-gu based on the Ara Waterway and the securing of reserve numbering capacity.Incheon has worked in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, district and county governments, and the Korea Local Information Resea

- Promotional events in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan conclude successfully; 831 B2B consultations and 25 MOUs signed to build a foundation for cooperation -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) and the Incheon Tourism Organization announced that, together with Team Medical Incheon,* they successfully concluded the “Incheon Medical Tourism Promotion and B2B Consultation Events” held in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to preemptively capture the Central Asian medical tourism market.*Team Medical Incheon: A public-private cooperative network of institutions attracting international patients to Incheon.The events were held on March 31 in Astana, Kazakhstan (Hilton Astana), and on April 2 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (Wyndham Tashkent), with approximately 90 participants, including major local outbound travel agencies and medical industry representatives. Participants discussed practical cooperation measures, such as joint marketing for Incheon’s specialized medical tourism products, resulting in a total of 831 B2B consultations (428 in Kazakhstan and 403 in Uzbekistan).Notably, the visit yielded 25 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with influential local agencies, establishing a concrete foundation for attracting international patients that goes beyond simple promotional activities.Nine medical institutions belonging to “Team Medical Incheon” participated in the events to promote Incheon’s advanced treatment technologies for severe illnesses and customized medical services: Gachon University Gil Medical Center; the Catholic University of Korea Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital; Inha University Hospital; Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital; Na-eun Hospital, Ain Hospital; I’m Ain Eye Clinic, Elite Plastic Surgery Clinic; and JK With Me Clinic. Three medical tourism agencies—Wowvoss, RG Factory, and Okiz—also joined the efforts to highlight the city’s superior medical infrastructure.In addition to the promotional events, the Incheon

- Continuous cadastral map updates, digitization of records, and establishment of an AI-based i-Work Manual -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that it will actively advance innovation across cadastral administration, including continuous cadastral map updates, the digitization of cadastral records, and the establishment of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based “i-Work Manual.”On April 2, the city held the “2026 Working-Level Consultative Meeting on Cadastral Administration Projects” with district (-gun) and county (-gu) offices to discuss key initiatives and future directions. The meeting was organized to strengthen field-oriented cooperation and enhance overall administrative efficiency.A key initiative, the continuous cadastral map update project, involves an investment of KRW 1.4 billion from 2025 to 2028 to update approximately 40,000 land parcels. In 2026, the project will be carried out in five districts and counties, covering around 6,000 parcels. Through this effort, the city aims to resolve discrepancies among cadastral records and improve the accuracy and usability of spatial information.The digitization of cadastral records will also continue. To date, approximately 230,000 cadastral records have been digitized. The city plans to further expand scanning, indexing, and database construction to establish a systematic foundation for cadastral data management.Furthermore, Incheon plans to develop the AI-based “i-Work Manual,” an intelligent work support system that integrates laws and case data across various fields, including cadastral administration, cadastral resurvey, and real estate. A dedicated task force composed of city and district/county officials will engage in data training to enhance the system's practical use in the field.The consultative meeting also included training sessions aimed at strengthening practical capabilities. The session included content on cadastral surveying standards, which provided education

- Ranked first in the tap water category at the “17th Korea National Brand Awards,” recognized by consumers as a trusted source of clean water -The Incheon Metropolitan City Waterworks Headquarters announced that its tap water brand, “Haneulsu,” has won the grand prize in the tap water category at the “2026 New York Festivals Korea National Brand Awards (The 2026 NYF K-NBA)” for the fourth consecutive year.Now in its 17th year, the Korea National Brand Awards is a global brand awards program hosted by New York Festivals, one of the world’s top three international advertising festivals. The event identifies and promotes Korea’s representative national brands to consumers worldwide.This award is particularly meaningful as it reflects a comprehensive evaluation by consumers themselves, who assessed brand awareness, identity, satisfaction, loyalty, and global competitiveness. Beyond simple brand preference, the result incorporates the real experiences and trust of citizens who use the service, demonstrating that the brand competitiveness of Incheon Haneulsu has been objectively validated.Haneulsu, which carries the meaning “clean water gifted by Incheon’s sky,” is the city’s signature tap water brand developed in collaboration with citizens, who helped create both its name and official logo. Since its official launch in 2022, the brand marks its fourth anniversary this year. Incheon Metropolitan City has been expanding both online and offline campaigns and citizen participation programs to make Incheon Haneulsu more accessible in everyday life.To realize the “clean value” pursued by the brand, the city has proactively obtained international certification for the Food Safety Management System (ISO 22000). It is also producing high-quality tap water by expanding advanced water treatment facilities and introducing smart water management systems. The city is also actively engaging in ESG management by producing eco-friendly label-free bottled wat

- Opening at 2 PM on April 8, reducing travel distance by 24% and travel time by 44% to significantly improve access to Gyeyang and Seoul -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) and the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) announced that the Geomdan–Dream Road connecting route, developed to improve the metropolitan transportation system in the Geomdan area, will open at 2 PM on April 8.The newly opened road is part of Metropolitan Road No. 52, which has a total length of 19.7 kilometers. This section consists of a 3.59-kilometer, four-lane roadway with two lanes in each direction. A total project cost of KRW 158.1 billion was invested, and the road was completed after approximately five years of construction, beginning in 2021.Since the first residents moved into the Geomdan district in June 2021, the area has experienced rapid population growth, leading to ongoing traffic congestion and persistent demands for expanded metropolitan transportation infrastructure. In particular, improving access to Gyeyang and Seoul has been a key concern among residents, making the prompt opening of this road a high priority for the local community.With the opening of this road, the travel distance from Yuhyeon Intersection in the Geomdan district to Dream Road in Gyeyang District is expected to decrease by 1.2 km (5.1 km → 3.9 km, down 24%), and travel time is projected to be reduced by 10 minutes (18 min → 8 min, down 44%).*Actual travel times may vary depending on traffic conditions.In particular, as traffic volume on the Jangje-ro section is expected to be dispersed* following chronic congestion during peak commuting hours, travel convenience is anticipated to improve significantly not only within the Geomdan area but also in nearby Gyeyang district and the northwestern part of Seoul. Furthermore, interregional transportation connectivity is expected to be further strengthened.*Improved vehicle flow on the “Geomdan ↔ Gyeyang (Gyeyangdaegyo Bridge)” and “

- Securing a core control and operations facility to elevate city status and generate economic benefits -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that the headquarters for the GTX-B line, which will oversee operations of the Great Train eXpress Line B (GTX-B), has been finalized for construction near Incheon National University Station in Songdo International City.The GTX-B headquarters will serve as a central railway operations facility, equipped with a control tower, situation rooms, and administrative offices responsible for overall train operations. The construction will be supervised by a private project operator, who will then donate it to the state, after which the operator will manage it under a consignment arrangement for approximately 40 years.Since August 2024, Incheon has actively pursued the project by proposing multiple candidate sites to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). Following the ministry’s request in February to confirm the headquarters location, the city made a policy decision that led to the final selection of Songdo.The selected site, located in 10-41 Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, is an unsold parcel within the Bio Information Technology Zone. Covering approximately 5,381 ㎡, sufficient enough for the headquarters, the site will be designated as an urban planning facility for railways and then purchased by MOLIT.Once established, the headquarters is expected to accommodate around 200 permanent staff, with total personnel reaching up to approximately 400. The resulting local consumption is estimated at about KRW 7.9 billion annually, totaling approximately KRW 318.6 billion over 40 years. During the construction phase, the project is projected to generate production inducement effects of about KRW 50 billion. After starting operations, it is expected to generate approximately KRW 10.2 billion annually, or about KRW 409.1 billion over 40 years. Considering the local allocation of corporate tax revenue, th