Incheon To Recruit 700 Households For “1,000-Won Housing” Starting March 16
Incheon Metropolitan City is recruiting prospective tenants for its “1,000-won housing” program. Applications will be accepted from March 16 to 20 at Incheon City Hall’s Central Hall on the 1st floor. The “1,000-won housing” program is Incheon’s unique housing welfare policy designed to address low birth rates and population decline. It allows residents to live for up to six years with a monthly rent of just 30,000 won, or 1,000 won per day. Eligible applicants include non-homeowning households such as newlywed couples within seven years of marriage, soon-to-be newlyweds, and families with newborns.
Incheon Operates ‘Hyeyum’ Policy Research Group for Public Officials
Incheon Metropolitan City will operate the eighth class of “Hyeyum,” a policy research group for public officials, to strengthen their research capabilities and discover creative policy ideas for city development. “Hyeyum,” a pure Korean word meaning “to think,” is a voluntary policy research group formed by public officials from Incheon and its districts and counties. The research activities will run for about six months from March through August. During this period, members will select a policy research topic by teams and carry out studies through discussions, field visits, and consultations with experts.
Incheon To Replace 94 Traffic Signal Controllers In Old Downtown Areas
Ninety-four traffic signal controllers installed at intersections in old downtown Incheon will be replaced with the latest equipment this year. The total budget for the replacement project is 850 million won. The newly introduced controllers will provide real-time traffic signal information to the Korea Road Traffic Authority and private navigation service providers such as T Map, KakaoNavi, and Naver Map, allowing drivers to check waiting times at intersections.
Incheon Launches Study On Microplastic Pollution In The Air
The Incheon Institute of Health and Environment will carry out a study to track microplastic pollution in the air. Microplastics are plastic particles measuring less than 5 millimeters that are generated through product use, abrasions, and fragmentation. They are considered to be an environmental risk factor. The institute plans to select five locations, including port areas, industrial complexes, and major transportation hubs, to analyze microplastic concentration levels and main components of airborne microplastics.
IPA Introduces Public Drone Filming Service For Partner Companies
The Incheon Port Authority (IPA) will launch a drone-based public service at Incheon Port. Under the program, the authority will provide regular and on-demand aerial filming free of charge to partner companies, including tenant companies at Incheon Port and construction site operators, using professional personnel and drone equipment. Any structure located within Incheon Port, including leased facilities, privately funded facilities, and construction sites, can apply for the service. On-demand aerial filming will also be provided for safety management purposes, such as identifying potential risks and addressing inspection blind spots.
Island Village In Ongjin-gun Provides Free Lunches For Seniors
A small island village in Incheon’s Ongjin-gun is providing free lunches for seniors 75 and older. Ongjin-gun’s Jawol 3-ri in Jawol-myeon, which has a population of 138, or 91 households as of February, are providing the free lunches to seniors three times a week at the village senior center. There are around 20 seniors aged 75 and older living in the village. The free lunch program began in April last year after the village leader proposed the idea, noting that many elderly residents live alone and often struggle to prepare proper meals. Labor and food costs are covered through the village development fund and the Ongjin-gun senior employment program budget.
Invasive Cordgrass Rapidly Declines In Ganghwa Tidal Flats
Common cordgrass, an invasive marine plant which has threatened the ecosystem of the tidal flats on Ganghwa Island, has sharply declined after long-term removal efforts. According to Incheon’s Ganghwa-gun and the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, the area inhabited by common cordgrass has decreased from 28,834 square meters in 2017 to just 80 square meters last year, a 99.7% reduction over eight years. Common cordgrass is an invasive species that spreads rapidly, rooting beneath tidal flats, which is a natural monument of Korea. They grow densely, eventually encroaching on habitats of tidal flat organisms. The Marine Environment Management Corporation, which oversees the removal project, plans to continue the effort this year with the goal of completely eradicating the remaining cordgrass on Ganghwa Island.
Sources: https://news.ifm.kr
