Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority and IPA Sign MOU to Attract Investment for Incheon Port's 'Golden Harbor'
The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority and Incheon Port Authority (IPA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) yesterday (30th) at G-Tower in Songdo International City to attract tourism and leisure facilities to the Golden Harbor.
The two organizations are promoting the Golden Harbor project, which aims to create a maritime tourism attraction in the area behind the Incheon International Passenger Terminal, with the goal of strengthening cooperation systems necessary to attract investment.
The IFEZ Authority will focus on attracting foreign investment, while the IPA will leverage its expertise in port infrastructure development and operations. Both organizations have agreed to work together to attract investment and revitalize the Golden Harbor development.
Incheon City Signs Agreement with Four Organizations to Support Young Carers
Incheon City signed an agreement with four organizations yesterday (30th) to actively identify and support children and adolescents who take on caregiving responsibilities within their families.
The organizations involved in the agreement are the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education, the Incheon branch of ChildFund Korea, the Incheon Social Welfare Center Association, and the Incheon Youth Future Center.
‘Young carers’ refers to children and youth who take on the role of caregiver at an age when they should be receiving care themselves, often due to a sudden accident, illness, or disability of their guardian.
Through this agreement, Incheon City and the Office of Education will work to identify these young individuals. ChildFund Korea plans to provide up to 1 million won per person annually to help cover medical and educational expenses.
Incheon City Selects Key Regional Pledges Ahead of Presidential Election
Incheon City has selected regional development pledges ahead of the 21st presidential election, scheduled for June 3.
On the 30th, the city announced 22 major pledges and 53 detailed projects to be presented to political parties and presidential candidates.
The city plans to actively cooperate with political parties to ensure that 10 key issues are incorporated into the new government's national policy agenda.
In addition to these core issues, Incheon City also plans to propose the decentralization of six special regional administrative agencies covering areas such as maritime affairs and the environment to strengthen local autonomy.
Incheon City to Install Seat Availability Displays on All Intercity Buses by June
To enhance transportation convenience for commuters traveling to and from Seoul, Incheon City will install seat availability displays on all intercity buses by June.
The installation will cover a total of 377 buses, including 114 Metropolitan Express (M-bus) buses (11 routes) and 253 Direct Intercity buses (20 routes).
The city expects the system to improve user convenience by displaying the number of available seats, calculated based on transportation card data, on the exterior of each bus.
Incheon City to Expand ‘Voluntary Animal Registration Reporting Period’
Incheon City will operate the 2025 Voluntary Animal Registration Reporting Period to promote pet dog registration and ensure accurate recordkeeping.
The city has decided to expand the reporting period from once a year between 2019 and last year to twice a year starting this year to encourage dog owners to voluntarily register their pets.
According to the Animal Protection Act, dogs over two months old must be registered within 30 days through an authorized agency. Owners are also required to report any changes, such as a change of owner, address, contact information, or the death of the registered animal.
Non-compliance may result in a fine of up to 1 million won.
Incheon City to Offer Convenient Personal Local Income Tax Filing Service
From today (May 1) through June 2, Incheon City will operate integrated filing centers across 10 counties and districts to assist taxpayers with filing their personal local income taxes.
The service is designed for taxpayers using the ‘pre-filled tax return’ system, supporting both local and comprehensive income tax filings. Taxpayers who face difficulty filing can visit their nearest office for assistance.
Taxpayers can choose to file electronically, by mail, or in person. Electronic filing is made easy through WeTax.
Incheon Subway Line 1 Extension to Songdo Selected for Preliminary Feasibility Study
The Incheon Subway Line 1 extension project into Songdo International City, which had been stalled due to economic feasibility concerns, will undergo government review once again.
Incheon City announced that the Songdo District 8 extension project was approved as a candidate for review during the 4th Fiscal Project Evaluation Committee meeting held by the Ministry of Economy and Finance on the 30th.
The city plans to invest 420 billion won to extend the terminus of Incheon Subway Line 1 by 1.74 kilometers, from the current Songdo Moonlight Festival Park Station to Misong Middle School in Songdo District 8. Two new stops will be added, with the goal of completing the extension by 2034.
The total project cost will be split, with 60 percent funded by the government and 40 percent covered by the city.
Jangbongdo~Modo Yeondo Bridge in Ongjin-gun Selected for Preliminary Feasibility Study
The Jangbongdo~Modo Yeondo Bridge in Ongjin-gun, Incheon, has been selected for a preliminary feasibility study.
The project is scheduled to be completed in 2031, with a total cost of 108.5 billion won. The bridge will span 1.8 kilometers and feature two lanes.
Bukdo-myeon, where Jangbongdo is located, consists of four islands, including Sindo, Sido, and Modo. With the planned construction of the Sindo Bridge (tentative name) connecting Yeongjongdo and Sindo, scheduled for January 2026, the Jangbongdo~Modo Yeondo Bridge will connect all four islands by bridge. Once completed, it will be possible to drive from Jangbongdo to the mainland.
Sources: https://news.ifm.kr
