[Incheon Secures Asia’s First Marine Biodegradability Certification for Bioplastics]
The Incheon Metropolitan City announced that the Korea Conformity Laboratories, a testing and certification body participating in the city’s Bioplastics Support Center Project, has been officially designated as Asia’s first authorized testing institution for Europe’s “OK Biodegradable Marine” certification.
The designation is part of Incheon’s broader effort to promote the eco-friendly bio industry through its Bioplastics Support Center project, which has been underway since 2021.It follows an earlier milestone in May, when KCL became Asia’s first accredited testing body for the European “OK Biobased” certification, marking another meaningful step forward in international certification.
With this development, domestic companies will now be able to conduct certification tests within Korea, which is expected to significantly shorten research and development timelines and reduce costs associated with overseas certification.
[Incheon Launches Giant “Happiness Forecast” Campaign Ahead of the New Year]
The Incheon Metropolitan City has launched a hands-on public campaign titled “Happiness Forecast,” giving citizens a chance to imagine their happiness for the year 2026.
As part of the campaign, the city has installed a massive claw machine standing approximately six meters tall, transforming a familiar everyday object into an interactive public attraction.
The event is being held from December 27 to 31 at Hyundai Premium Outlet Songdo, and is open to all visitors free of charge.
The oversized claw machine draws attention with its striking scale and is designed to naturally encourage public participation and photo-taking, offering visitors a fun and memorable year-end experience.
[Incheon Establishes Nation’s First Analysis System to Address Ultrafine Dust]
The Incheon Metropolitan City Public Health and Environment Research Institute has become the first in the nation to establish a standardized analysis system for ultrafine particulate matter, or PM 1.0, taking a proactive step to address growing concerns over air quality.
The institute conducted Korea’s first research aimed at standardizing measurement techniques for PM 1.0, an area that previously lacked official testing standards and reliable analytical methods.Through the study, researchers were able to secure highly accurate measurement data, which is expected to serve as a basis for establishing national standards and guiding future policies related to ultrafine particulate matter.
[Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education Publishes Student-Created English Storybooks]
The Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education has published a collection of English storybooks created by students as part of a regional program linked to international organizations.
Now in its third year, the initiative brings together international organizations based in Incheon and focuses on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, known as the SDGs.
Students were involved in the entire creative process, from developing storylines to producing illustrations, creating original English storybooks while building global citizenship skills.
An official with the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education said the project represents a meaningful effort to share students’ creative work with peers around the world, adding that the office hopes the program will help students learn the values of sharing and cooperation and grow into responsible global citizens.
[Geomdan Prehistory Museum Offers Hands-On Programs for Winter Break]
The Incheon Geomdan Prehistory Museum is offering special winter break programs for children, ranging from those preparing to enter elementary school to sixth graders.
The programs, titled “A Time Travel to the Prehistoric Age” and “Archaeologists in Our Neighborhood,” will run from January 6 to 16, 2026, and will be open to participants free of charge.
The museum says the programs are designed as hands-on experiences to help children understand history and culture in an engaging and accessible way.
Sources: https://news.ifm.kr
