Singer Kim Jang-hoon joins honorary Coast Guard ranks
Public interest in honorary Coast Guard officers has grown after singer Kim Jang-hoon was appointed as a public relations ambassador for the East Regional Coast Guard Headquarters.
Along with the appointment, the singer has been awarded the honorary rank of superintendent (Gyeongjeong).
According to the Korea Coast Guard, Kim was appointed as an honorary Coast Guard officer on July 21 in recognition of his long-standing advocacy for Dokdo and his contributions to the public good.
He had been scheduled to perform at a Coast Guard concert on Dokdo the following day, but the event was canceled due to bad weather, preventing his visit to the island.
Kim will continue to take part in promotional activities related to protecting maritime sovereignty over the East Sea and Dokdo, as well as promoting a culture of maritime safety.
Incheon Immigration Office faces legal staff shortage amid rising refugee lawsuits
The Incheon Immigration Office is facing a severe shortage of legal staff despite a growing number of refugee applications and administrative lawsuits.
According to Ministry of Justice statistics, the Incheon Immigration Office had handled a cumulative 19,617 refugee applications as of last year.
As refugee applications continue to increase, so has the number of administrative lawsuits filed by applicants challenging the results of their asylum reviews.
Despite handling hundreds of lawsuits each year, the office currently has only one public service lawyer assigned to manage these cases.
The growing workload has raised concerns that the office may struggle to respond effectively to refugee-related litigation.
Incheon launches Phase 2 of global ECT initiative
Incheon Metropolitan City has taken another step toward becoming a global hub for environmental and climate technology (ECT) in response to the climate crisis.
The city announced that the proposed Seohae Geomdan Innopolis has been selected for Phase 2 support in a comprehensive evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Beginning in 2027, the city will carry out a five-year specialized development project.
With the designation, the project has secured 10 billion won in central government funding, providing a solid financial foundation for the initiative.
A city official said the second-phase project will further strengthen Incheon's environment-focused innovation ecosystem and help promising local companies expand from the domestic market to the global stage.
Incheon expands AI Digital Learning Centers for residents
Incheon Metropolitan City’s AI Digital Learning Center program, which helps residents incorporate artificial intelligence into their daily lives and work, has been gaining an enthusiastic response.
To meet growing demand, the city has added two new learning centers this year at the Buk Incheon Post Office and the Mansu 2-dong Administrative & Welfare Center, bringing the total number of hub locations to four.
Incheon residents interested in the program can register through the AI Digital Learning Center website or by calling the dedicated hotline at 1644-5561.
Incheon urges food poisoning precautions for a healthy summer
The Incheon Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment is urging residents to follow food safety guidelines due to increased risk of food poisoning during the hot and humid summer season.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's Food Safety Korea portal, 361 cases of food poisoning had been reported nationwide by the end of May this year.
The figure is more than three times the number recorded during the same period last year.
Officials advise people to wash their hands with running water for at least 30 seconds before and after preparing food and before meals, and to use separate cutting boards and knives for raw meat and fruits and vegetables.
Incheon Agricultural Technology Center offers traditional Baekjung experience
The Incheon Agricultural Technology Center will hold the Baekjung Traditional Folk Experience for 2026 at its traditional culture experience and education center, Inhuijae.
The program will be held on August 12 and 13, and is designed to introduce participants to the traditional customs and farming culture associated with Baekjung, which falls on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar.
Sources: https://news.ifm.kr
