[Article 1]
Baedari Book Festival to Highlight Historic Used Bookstore District
Incheon Metropolitan City will hold the 2026 Baedari Book Bridge Festival on October 24 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Baedari’s used bookstore street located in Jemulpo-gu’s Geumgok-ro.
The festival draws on the history and atmosphere of Baedari, which was once renowned as one of Korea’s three major used bookstore districts in the 1960s and 1970s.
It aims to highlight the area’s unique cultural value and help it develop into a sustainable hub for humanities and culture.
The city plans to use the event as an opportunity to develop Baedari into a destination where reading culture and local tourism come together.
It also plans to expand cultural initiatives that benefit residents and support businesses in the surrounding neighborhood.
[Article 2]
Incheon and KEI to Strengthen Environmental Impact Assessments
Incheon Metropolitan City will sign an agreement with the Korea Environment Institute (KEI) to establish a specialized review system for environmental impact assessments and respond proactively to changes in the assessment framework.
KEI is a government-funded research institute under the Prime Minister’s Office, and the agreement with Incheon comes as revisions to relevant laws strengthen assessment requirements under municipal and provincial ordinances.
The city plans to enhance its ability to assess the environmental impact of large-scale development projects and establish ongoing cooperation with specialized institutions.
The goal is to prevent or minimize environmental damage from development through more proactive and effective environmental administration.
[Article 3]
Incheon Named Outstanding Institution in National Safety Inspection for 4th Straight Year
Incheon Metropolitan City has been named an outstanding institution for the fourth consecutive year in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s 2026 evaluation of nationwide intensive safety inspections.
The recognition reflects the city’s continued efforts to strengthen preventive safety management, including proactive inspections of aging and high-risk facilities, public-private cooperation, the use of specialized equipment and systematic follow-up measures.
The inspections covered a wide range of facilities, including those used by vulnerable groups such as children and older adults, traditional markets and high-risk industrial sites.
The city also conducted joint inspections with private-sector experts from the “Help Me” program and relevant organizations, using advanced equipment such as drones and thermal imaging cameras to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of inspections.
[Article 4]
Incheon to Hold Innovation and Proactive Administration Week
Incheon Metropolitan City will hold its 2026 Innovation and Active Administration Week from October 20 to 23 at the main building of City Hall.
The event aims to promote innovation and proactive administration throughout the public sector, giving employees opportunities to participate in various programs and reflect on the importance of innovation and putting proactive administration into practice.
The city plans to continue improving internal work practices and strengthen institutional support for proactive administration so that outstanding policies and innovative ideas can be put into practice more quickly.
[Article 5]
2026 WFDSA World Congress Opens in Incheon
The 2026 WFDSA World Congress will be held from October 19 to 21 at Inspire Entertainment Resort on Yeongjong Island in Incheon.
Organized by the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA) and hosted by the Korea Direct Selling Industry Association (KDSA), the congress is the direct selling industry’s only global event.
The 18th edition of the congress is being held in Korea for the first time, bringing together around 600 participants, including industry executives and association representatives from around the world.
In addition to providing administrative support, the city will work with the Incheon MICE Alliance to operate tourism information booths and K-content experience zones.
It hopes to improve participants’ experience and build momentum for attracting more international conferences and MICE events in the future.
Sources: https://news.ifm.kr
