Incheon establishes future strategy, including city-wide connection, future/green industries, logistics, and tourism With the successful launching of the New Hong Kong City project, Incheon City says it is ready to take its next leap forward as a city known for its cutting-edge innovation, liberal and international environment, and fast-paced growth. The New Hong Kong City project, one of the key pledges of the 8th democratically elected administration of Incheon, is a comprehensive strategy to develop Incheon into a global hub city that stands shoulder to shoulder with Hong Kong and Singapore using strategies aimed at responding keenly to changes in the international environment and maximizing its potential as well as city infrastructure. ▲ On March 15, Incheon Metropolitan City Government hosted the “New Hong Kong City Project Vision Declaration Ceremony” at the Yeongjong Sky Cultural Center Plaza in Jung-gu. At the event, City officials announced the City’s aspirations to take the next leap forward in its journey of becoming a bona fide international metropolis. Image of attendees at the vision declaration ceremony. In September of last year, the city set the direction of the project and started preparing a list of specific strategies. In October, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) on mutual cooperation. In early March this year, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok visited Hong Kong to see where the city is going. This, combined with his trips to Singapore and Europe last year, helped the Mayor put the final touches to his New Hong Kong City plan. Now that it has announced its vision for the project, Incheon is hoping to organize and share the blueprint and strategy for New Hong Kong City that it has envisioned so far, and start pushing forward with the project in earnest. The three goals of the New Hong Kong City project are focused on turning Incheon into: ① a high-tech innovation city where locals

Expanding its network of national and municipal public childcare centers to 456 locations by 2026 The Incheon Metropolitan City Government has decided to drastically increase the number of national and public childcare centers parents can trust their children with. The City plans to increase the number of national and public childcare centers, which are highly preferred by parents of young children, by more than 40 each year. The goal is to increase the number of these national and municipal childcare centers to 456 by 2026, which will hopefully create a childcare environment conducive to having and raising children. ▲ Incheon plans to increase the number of national and public childcare centers, which are highly preferred by parents of young children, by more than 40 each year. The goal is to increase the number of these national and municipal childcare centers to 456 by 2026. Image of the Durumi Childcare Center. A survey on childcare policies and demand asked parents across Incheon in 2021 revealed that the number one childcare priority for parents is the expansion of national and public childcare centers. Reflecting such demand, the City plans to increase the number of national and public childcare centers in Incheon from 296 as of the end of 2022 to 456 by 2026, raising the share of national and public childcare centers from 18.7% to more than 30%. The budget required for this transition could be as much as KRW 22.6 billion. To this end, the City plans to focus on rekindling the conversion of private childcare centers to public centers. Private and at-home childcare centers are facing the grim reality of plummeting birth rates and a declining number of children in recent years - roughly 100 close every year. Incheon plans to convert existing private childcare centers and childcare facilities at apartments into national or public childcare centers outright or on long-term contracts. The City believes that this conversion can enhance the quality of childcare, a

Incheon Grand Park Cherry Blossom Festival from April 8 to 9, and Goryeosan Mountain Azalea Festival from April 15 to 23 The long and bitter winter of isolation, partly from the cold but mostly because of the lingering effects of COVID-19, appears to be finally over. Now, it is time, once again, to celebrate the spring season. And for this year’s spring, you need to be ready as things may fly by very quickly. Once all the spring flowers start to bloom, they only need a week to be in full bloom. Also, the weather early on in spring tends to be fickle, making it difficult to put your finger on when exactly the flowers will actually start blooming. According to Weather Eye, a meteorological company, spring flowers are expected to bloom in Incheon this year four to ten days earlier than normal. Azaleas (March 25), which are likely to bloom ten days earlier than usual, are expected to set things in motion, followed by forsythias (March 28), and cherry blossoms (March 28). To get you ready for the blooming season, which begins in earnest in the last week of March, these are some of the best places to enjoy the spring flowers in Incheon. ▲ Perhaps the best-known spot for azaleas spot in Incheon is Goryeosan Mountain (436m) in Ganghwa. The Goryeosan Mountain Azalea Festival is one of Korea's most exciting spring flower festivals. More than 400,000 people from all over the country visit the Festival every year in search of the sea of light pink flowers spreading from halfway up the Mountain and all the way up to its peak. Image of Goryeosan Mountain with azaleas in full bloom. Azalea was the oldest flower valued and treasured by Koreans Goryeosan Mountain Azalea Festival gets under way from April 15 to 23… Beautiful azaleas also available in Haeymyeong, Gayeon, and Cheongnyangsan Mountains Records say that our ancestors used to add azalea into “Hwajeon” pancakes (flower pancakes) or they simply sucked on azalea flowers to enjoy the sweet nectar. This could very wel

Set locale inside Cheongna Lake Park to become a major tourist attraction... Opening soon in April Incheon is turning “Cheongna Lake Park,” where Netflix hit series “The Glory” was filmed, into a major tourist attraction. The Incheon Metropolitan City Government says it plans on working with the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, the Incheon Film Commission, and the Incheon Tourism Organization to restore set locations across Incheon featured in The Glory series and open it up to the public sometime next month. ▲ Cheongna Lake Park was a key venue in pushing the plot forward between the key characters in The Glory. To take advantage of The Glory’s massive success, Incheon has decided to use Cheongna Lake Park as a tourism resource and open up the production set for the Netflix original for a limited time only starting this April. The Glory is a TV series previously chosen by Incheon and Incheon Film Commission as a “killer content” for the City. Both organizations supported its production with an initiative aimed at attracting and promoting film video content filmed in Incheon. The Glory became a worldwide sensation, with 172.2 million in cumulative viewing hours, the no. 1 watched show on Netflix's Global Top 10 TV (non-English) category. Part 2 is scheduled to air on March 10. ▲ Image from a scene in The Glory filmed at Cheongna Lake Park. Cheongna Lake Park was a key venue in pushing the plot forward between the key characters in The Glory. To take advantage of The Glory’s massive success, Incheon has decided to use Cheongna Lake Park as a tourism resource and open up the production set for the Netflix original for a limited time only starting this April.  

▲ With the Incheon Metropolitan City Government deciding to freeze public utility rates for the first half of the year, it says will be cutting sewage charges, which had already gone up earlier in the year, for the next six months.) Incheon is cutting sewage charges, which had gone up earlier in the year, by 10% for the next six months. Residents will see the discount offer applied to their sewage charges from March to August this year. Previously, on February 17, the City announced its decision to “freeze” seven of its city-wide public utilities (city gas, regular taxis, buses, subways, water and sewage, and garbage bags), including sewage charges, for the first half of 2023. The decision was made to alleviate the pressure on each household as they were expected to struggle with increasing gas prices and other inflationary pressures. However, prior to this decision to freeze public utility rates in the first half of this year, Incheon reached a separate agreement to adjust the standard unit price for sewage usage applied to different types of businesses in accordance with its plan to bring sewage fees to a viable level. Thus, the City decided to increase sewage rates by an average of 10% over a three-year span from 2021 to 2023. This meant that the rates for household sewage as of January 1, 2023 (based on meter readings on the inspection date), went from KRW 380 to KRW 410 per cubic meter. Fortunately, the Incheon Metropolitan City Government says will be cutting sewage charges, which had already gone up earlier in the year, for the next six months to align its sewage policy with the freezing of other public utilities for the first half of 2023. Since sewage bills for the month of January (payable in February) had already been sent out prior to the City’s decision, households will be eligible for a 10% discount on their sewage bills for the next six months from their sewage bill for the month of February (payable in March) to July (payable in August).

Incheon subsidizing up to 90% of installation costs... Free first-come-first-serve offer for apartment security offices Incheon has green lit its “2023 Mini Solar Power Generator Module Project” to help locals reduce their utility bills and promote the use of new and renewable energy. The City will invest KRW 530 million this year to promote the supply of mini solar power generator modules to roughly 430 locations. An additional KRW 130 million to the previous year’s budget is expected to come in handy as the City looks to install more mini solar power generators in houses, buildings, and apartment security offices. ▲ Incheon will invest KRW 530million this year to promote the supply of mini solar power generator modules to roughly 430 locations. An additional KRW 130 million to the previous year’s budget is expected to come in handy as the City looks to install more mini solar power generators in houses, buildings, and apartment security offices. Incheon will subsidize up to 80% of the cost when installing mini solar power generator modules depending on their capacity (KRW 800,000 for 300W modules, KRW 1.6million for 600W modules), and an extra 10% (maximum subsidy of 90%) for group applications made by apartment communities (minimum 10 households). The project is also offering free installation of mini solar power generators at apartment security offices, the same as it did last year. Incheon will subsidize 90% of the installation cost (including funds from Gu district budgets) and participating companies will pay for the remaining 10%, meaning the apartment security office bears no cost. The mini solar power generator module project began back in 2014 to promote the voluntary use of new and renewable energy. Until last year, the project had managed to supply 898kW in solar power capacity across a total of 2,191 locations in Incheon. A 600W mini solar power generator can produce approximately 81 ㎾ h of electricity a month, which is enough to use a wal

City investing a total of KRW 136 billion to add 12,429 electric vehicles to its roads Incheon is now accepting applications (from February 21) for the “2023 Electric Vehicle Project” which offers a subsidy to each newly purchased electric vehicle to promote the use of eco-friendly vehicles. ▲ Incheon is now accepting applications (from February 21) for the “2023 Electric Vehicle Project” which offers a subsidy to each newly purchased electric vehicle to promote the use of eco-friendly vehicles. The City will invest a total of KRW 136 billion, including KRW 88.1 billion from the central government, with the goal of putting 12,429 electric vehicles on its roads this year. By vehicle type, Incheon is hoping to add 10,080 electric passenger vehicles, 2,227 electric trucks, and 122 electric buses across either the first half or second half of the year. Electric vehicle subsidies (including government and city subsidies) will be available on a sliding scale depending on vehicle performance (fuel economy/energy consumption, range), etc. The maximum subsidy per vehicle has been confirmed at KRW 10.30 million for an electric passenger vehicle, KRW 18 million for an electric truck (small), and KRW 80 million for an electric bus (large). However, in the case of passenger vehicles, cars with a recommended consumer price of KRW 85 million or more will not be eligible for the subsidy. Also, electric taxis will get KRW 2 million in national (central government) subsidies, whereas lower-income households and low-income households will get 10% of the national subsidy when buying a small electric passenger vehicle or 20% when buying a micro electric passenger vehicle. An additional KRW 500,000in national subsidy will be offered to promote the use of micro electric vehicles as well. Small business owners or lower-income/low-income families will get 30% of the national subsidy when purchasing an electric truck, and an additional KRW 5 million when purchasing an electric bus

9,000 more residents, including seniors living in Yeongjongdo and residents under customized care programs, could benefit from the initiative With Incheon’s senior care initiative featuring local hospitals selected by the “Residents’ Participatory Budget System,” the City Government plans on expanding its scope to cover more local residents. This senior care initiative, which began as a pilot project in 2022, will become a full-fledged program available across more districts in Incheon. The number of beneficiaries of the initiative is expected to reach 9,000 this year thanks to a lower eligible age (from 70 to 65, eligible seniors must be on basic pension support), and the inclusion of previously in eligible senior citizens (Yeongjongdo residents and seniors under customized care programs). The senior care initiative offered in collaboration with local hospitals is a one-stop service that helps the elderly access hospitals, including volunteers to transport them to and from hospitals, help seniors register at kiosks available at hospitals, and assist them with paying at hospitals. Eligible seniors can apply at their nearest Administrative and Welfare Center or their local Volunteer Center. Seniors must use local hospital-level medical institutions within Incheon’s jurisdiction on weekdays only (service unavailable on weekends and public holidays) and travel either by taxi or in a car driven by a volunteer for free. Volunteers are given a flatrate of KRW 20,000 if they use their own vehicles to transport seniors. As for taxis, Incheon will cover the actual fare paid. Yeongjongdo residents, however, will get an additional KRW 10,000 given its geographical limitations (toll fares are also subsidized). The initiative is a form of senior care network using volunteers, and is significant because it not only reduces labor costs, but also lays the groundwork for ordinary citizens to help solve issues their local communities are facing. In fact, compared to simila

Incheon establishes a comprehensive plan for eight water quality controls by 2023 Tap water in Incheon is about to get much cleaner. The Incheon Waterworks Headquarters is looking to establish a comprehensive water quality control plan in 2023 to develop a management system optimized for water purifying facilities. The new system will help Incheon control different aspects of its water resources, develop the capacity of technicians tasked with controlling the City’s water quality, and assess/evaluate facilities to keep water under stable control. ▲ The Incheon Waterworks Headquarters is looking to establish a comprehensive water quality control plan in 2023 to develop a management system optimized for water purifying facilities. The new system will help Incheon control different aspects of its water resources, develop the capacity of technicians tasked with controlling the City’s water quality, and assess/evaluate facilities to keep water under stable control. The image is a full view of the Waterworks Headquarters. This latest comprehensive plan from the Incheon Waterworks Headquarters includes a management system for each facet of water quality control, including the management of tap water production, water intake, and water supply, as well as strategies to improve public trust in tap water and encourage input from experts in policy decisions made by the City. The City will also establish a management plan for specific points of the year to help respond to changing water quality and remove algae, small organisms, etc. at the source, and a separate water quality management plan covering parts of the year where risk exposure to the City’s water resources grows such as holidays, the rainy season, and winter season to eliminate any dips in Incheon’s water quality throughout the entire year. ▲ Incheon Waterworks Headquarters will strengthen water quality inspections from the source to faucets at homes, and disclose the results to the Tap Water Evaluation

Yeongjong, Yongyu, and Bukdo-myeon (Ongjin-gun) residents only pay KRW 2,900 The subsidy currently available for Yeongjong, Yongyu, and Bukdo-myeon (Ongjin-gun) residents using the Airport Expressway to get to and from their homes is set to get a major upgrade. Starting on October 1 this year, Incheon will offer a subsidy worth KRW 3,700 in toll fees for vehicles registered to residents of Yeongjong, Yongyu, and Bukdo-myeon using the Incheon International Airport Expressway (Incheon Airport Toll Gate). A full fare costs KRW 6,600 per vehicle. Previously, a subsidy was given only to vehicles traveling to and from Incheon using the lower deck of Yeongjong Bridge, but from October, the offer will cover vehicles traveling to and from other regions, including Seoul, using the upper deck. ▲ The subsidy for cars traveling on Yeongjong Bridge’s upper deck was a pledge made by the Mayor last September during his visit to Yeongjongdo. The KRW 3,700 subsidy for cars driving on the upper deck of the Bridge means locals only have to pay KRW 2,900out of pocket. The subsidy for cars traveling on Yeongjong Bridge’s upper deck was a pledge made by the Mayor last September during his visit to Yeongjongdo. The KRW 3,700 subsidy for cars driving on the upper deck of the Bridge means locals only have to pay KRW 2,900out of pocket, which is on par with public expressways. With this new subsidy in place, local residents will no longer have to go through the hassle of usingthe Cheongna Interchange and getting on the lower deck of Yeongjong Bridge (via Bukincheon Toll Gate) to make sure they get the subsidy. Moreover, the subsidy is expected to help alleviate peak-hour traffic congestion caused by vehicles entering and exiting the Cheongna Interchange. In addition to this new subsidy, Incheon is pushing to install the first-ever Hi-Pass system in Korea exclusively designed to automatically deduct the subsidy from toll fares paid by locals. Currently, getting the subsidy requires the