25,000 Petition for New Express Bus Connecting Ganghwa to Seoul Station
A proposal to launch a direct metropolitan express bus route from Ganghwa-gun, an area with virtually no regional transportation infrastructure, to Seoul Station is drawing attention. Ganghwa-gun recently submitted a proposal to establish a new “Seoul Station Express M-Bus (Metropolitan Express Bus)” route to Incheon Metropolitan City on April 29. The proposed route would pass through 13 stops and take about 80 minutes one way between Ganghwa Terminal and Seoul Station. Ganghwa-gun expects the direct express bus service to Seoul could boost tourism and enhance the overall competitiveness of the region.
Incheon Launches Intensive Safety Inspections at 320 Public Facilities
Incheon Metropolitan City is launching a comprehensive inspection to fundamentally prevent major civic disasters that threaten citizen safety. The inspections will go beyond paperwork reviews and focus on whether safety systems are actually functioning in the field. As part of the comprehensive inspections for the first half, officials will inspect 320 public-use facilities and manufacturing sites managed by the city starting May 11. Authorities will thoroughly examine staffing, budgeting, hazard management, and emergency response procedures on-site.
Incheon Encourages Pneumonia Vaccinations for Seniors
Ahead of Parents’ Day on May 8, Incheon Metropolitan City is urging residents with parents aged 65 and older to make sure they visit designated medical institutions to receive pneumococcal vaccinations. The vaccine helps prevent serious invasive infections such as pneumonia and meningitis, which can be especially dangerous for senior citizens. Residents born before December 31, 1961, are eligible for one free vaccination of the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) at designated clinics or health centers. Designated medical institutions can be checked on the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Immunization Website.
Incheon Activates Summer Infectious Disease Response System
Incheon Metropolitan City will operate the “2026 Summer Emergency Disease Control System” through September 30, as the risk of waterborne and foodborne infectious diseases increases due to rising temperatures and the rainy season. Waterborne and foodborne infectious diseases are transmitted through contaminated food or water. During the summer, high temperatures and humidity accelerate the proliferation of pathogens, increasing the risk of outbreaks. The city will operate the emergency system until September, conducting on-call duty from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays, and maintaining an emergency contact network outside of these hours to ensure a 24-hour response system.
Emigration History Museum Launches Weekend Family Program
The Museum of Korea Emigration History in Incheon is introducing a weekend educational program titled “Our Family Immigration Recipe” for families with elementary school students in the area. The experiential education program explores immigrant history through food and cooking traditions. Families will learn how immigrants adapted recipes and ingredients while preserving memories of home and cultural identity. It aims to provide a natural insight into the significance of fusion cuisine and the dishes created by preserving culinary identity while adapting to the local environment.
Fusion Gugak Band KyongJi to Perform at Coffee Concert Series
The Incheon Culture & Arts Center’s popular “Coffee Concert” series will feature fusion Korean traditional music band “KyongJi” on May 20 at 2 p.m. The center’s long-running matinee concert series has gained popularity combining live performances with coffee, and has attracted a cumulative 97,000 audience members since launching in 2008. The upcoming performance, titled “Treasure Island,” promises a blend of traditional and modern sounds.
Sources: https://news.ifm.kr
