- Applications open for leading district designation across five areas, including Guwol and Yeonsu -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it is moving forward in earnest with redevelopment projects aimed at improving residential environments in aging-expected cities and transforming them into sustainable, future-oriented urban communities.The city is currently preparing the 2035 Incheon Aging-Expected City Redevelopment Master Plan for five districts: Guwol; Yeonsu–Seonhak; Mansu 1, 2, and 3; Galsan-Bupyeong-Bugae; and Gyesan. The plan goes beyond simple improvements to the residential environment and seeks to achieve a systematic, metropolitan-scale restructuring of the city’s urban spatial framework.To improve project feasibility and ease the financial burden on residents, Incheon has also adjusted the public contribution requirements. Under an ordinance enacted and promulgated on April 20, the city set public contribution ratios for the five districts at the legal minimum levels of 10% for Tier 1 and 41% for Tier 2 projects. Through these measures, the city seeks to ease residents’ financial burdens and facilitate the smooth implementation of redevelopment projects.Incheon has published an FAQ section on its website regarding the designation of leading districts to improve public understanding of the initiative. The city is also accelerating administrative support efforts including the establishment of the Incheon Aging-Expected City Redevelopment Committee to ensure professionalism and fairness throughout the redevelopment process.Following a review by the Redevelopment Committee in July, Incheon plans to finalize the master plan after deliberation by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport’s Central Special Committee, with official notification expected in October.In particular, applications for designation as a Leading District—a key component of the redevelopment initiative—will be accepted until June 1. Final selections are schedul

- Joint marine debris collection campaign conducted with the Incheon Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, Incheon Coast Guard, and Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it carried out a tidal flat cleanup campaign on May 27 at Sorae Wetland Ecological Park in Namdong-gu to commemorate the 31st Sea Day.As a national commemorative day celebrated on May 31, Sea Day was established to promote awareness of the importance of the maritime industry and to encourage those working in the sector. It celebrates the establishment of Cheonghaejin by Admiral Jang Bogo during the Unified Silla period.The event was organized to highlight the importance of marine environmental conservation and to encourage collaboration among the relevant organizations to build a sustainable marine ecosystem.Approximately 150 officials from various organizations took part in the cleanup effort, including Incheon Metropolitan City, Incheon Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries, Incheon Coast Guard, and Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation. The participants collected various marine debris from the tidal flats, including discarded plastics.In addition to the cleanup activities, a variety of citizen-participation programs were held to raise awareness of the importance of marine ecosystems. Event booths featured eco-friendly sea soap-making activities as well as a photo exhibition on marine environmental conservation. Educational sessions on marine accident prevention and marine safety experience programs also attracted strong public interest.“Tidal flats are valuable natural assets that absorb carbon and are a legacy that must be preserved for future generations. We will continue working with related organizations and citizens to protect marine ecosystems and create a cleaner marine environment,” said Lee Han-nam, Director of the Incheon Maritime Affairs and Aviation Bureau.

- KRW 1.9 billion invested to establish a real-world testbed at Cheongna Robot Tower, enabling logistics robot testing from elevator boarding to outdoor navigation -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it held an opening ceremony for the “Incheon Logistics Robot Specialized Demonstration Hub” at the Cheongna Robot Tower on May 21, with approximately 70 representatives from the industry, academia, research institutes, and government agencies attending the event. The hub was established to strengthen the city’s robotics demonstration infrastructure and position Incheon as a leading logistics robotics hub in the capital area.The project was launched after Incheon was selected for the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy’s “Robot Flagship Regional Hub Development Project.” Implemented by Incheon Technopark, the initiative involved a total investment of KRW 1.9 billion to build an advanced demonstration infrastructure.The Incheon Logistics Robot Specialized Demonstration Hub is a real-environment office-building logistics robot testbed that integrates indoor and outdoor autonomous driving environments, simulated logistics spaces, robot-to-infrastructure remote communication, and control systems.The facility enables a wide range of demonstrations in environments similar to actual logistics sites including elevator calling and boarding, verification of automatic door integration, outdoor navigation, and logistics picking operations. A key feature of the hub is its operation as an open testbed, allowing robotics companies to conduct demonstrations directly through an application process.Participating companies will receive systematically organized operational data collected at the facility, which can be used for AI reinforcement learning, product development, and technology advancement.As the operating organization, Incheon Technopark plans to establish a structured management framework during the first-year pilot phase by actively gathering corporate dem

- Tree-planting event held in Mongolia on May 21, highlighting the global model for fine dust reduction and climate diplomacy -After 19 years of development by the Incheon Metropolitan City, the Incheon Hope Forest project is now delivering tangible results toward carbon neutrality and establishing itself as a key model for responding to the climate crisis in Northeast Asia.The city held the “2026 Incheon Hope Forest” tree-planting event on May 21 at an afforestation site in Songino Khairkhan District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Approximately 100 participants—including 29 student and citizen volunteers from Incheon, officials from both countries, and local Mongolian students—gathered to plant around 1,000 pine trees.The event was designed not only to bring new life to Mongolia—regarded as one of the major sources of fine dust affecting Korea—but also to serve as a meaningful educational opportunity to raise awareness among future generations regarding the seriousness of climate change. Participants delivered a message of environmental solidarity beyond national borders by conducting anti-desertification activities alongside the tree planting.The Incheon Hope Forest project began in 2008 through the citizen-led “Planting Hope Trees to Prevent Yellow Dust” campaign. What started as a small-scale civic initiative gradually expanded with administrative and financial support from the city government, growing over the past 19 years into a massive green zone covering 157 hectares.This area is larger than 220 soccer fields combined, accounting for approximately 54% of the total area of Seoul's Yeouido. The project laid the foundation for creating a vast “green barrier” in the barren Mongolian desert through the efforts of Incheon citizens, with a total of approximately 250,000 trees having taken root there to date.The long-running afforestation project is now proving its value through measurable data. The city expects the Incheon Hope Forest project to reduc

- Model of coexistence between international organizations in Songdo and local government, linking community support through the city’s welfare platform -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it held the “2nd Food Donation Event” on May 20 at the Namdong-gu Senior Welfare Center in cooperation with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to support low-income elderly residents living alone in the city.Serving as a leading model of regional coexistence, the event is promoted through cooperation between the city and international organizations based in Incheon; this year marks its second iteration following last year’s inaugural event. The city government became the bridge, matching voluntary resources from GCF and other organizations with local welfare needs. Calvin Manitoba International School (CMIS) also continued its participation from last year, further establishing the initiative as an exemplary public-private cooperation model that puts climate solidarity and community contribution into practice.The donated items were collected over the course of March through the active participation of GCF employees as well as students and faculty members from CMIS. A total of 52 boxes of donations were gathered through these collective efforts, marking a significant increase in scale compared to last year thanks to the participants’ continued solidarity.The donations consisted of 1,714 food items including canned goods and sterilized milk. These items will provide practical support for the daily lives of senior citizens, and they will be distributed sequentially to low-income elderly households living alone in the community through the Namdong-gu Senior Welfare Center.Established at G-Tower in Songdo in 2013, GCF is Korea’s first international organization dedicated to responding to the climate crisis. The organization currently employs approximately 400 global professionals. Through this event, it is expanding its role beyond environmental sustainability to include soc

- Largest edition ever to be held at Songdo Convensia from June 17 to 19, featuring 200 companies and 500 booths -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that the “2026 Korea Ocean Expo”—the only marine-specializing exhibition in the Seoul metropolitan area—will be held for three days from June 17 to 19 at Songdo Convensia in Incheon.Hosted by Incheon Metropolitan City and Korea Coast Guard and organized by the Incheon Tourism Organization and Reed K. Fairs, the exhibition has continued to grow remarkably since its launch in 2013. The 2024 event achieved its best performance to date with approximately 200 participating companies and more than 17,000 visitors. This year’s exhibition will showcase even more extensive business programs and citizen participation events than last year, with the goal of satisfying companies, buyers, and general visitors alike.In addition to shipbuilding, vessels, marine safety, and other existing sectors, the exhibition will place special focus on future marine technologies including AI, autonomous navigation, and eco-friendly vessels. Approximately 200 domestic and international companies in shipbuilding and advanced marine equipment—including HD Hyundai and KT SAT—will participate across 500 booths, providing visitors with a comprehensive look at the present and future of marine and shipbuilding industries.In particular, this year’s event involves collaborating with KOTRA for the first time to invite procurement officials from overseas maritime law enforcement agencies in more than 20 countries, as well as representatives from private import and export companies. The exhibition will provide participating companies with practical export consultation opportunities while also expanding purchasing consultation programs with procurement officials from the Korea Coast Guard and domestic shipyards to maximize business outcomes.More than 20 specialized seminars including the “KORMARINE Conference—one of the representative confer

Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it held the “19th Together Day Ceremony” on May 17 at Incheon Aetteul Plaza.Celebrated annually on May 20, Together Day is a legally designated commemorative day established under the Framework Act on the Treatment of Foreigners Residing in the Republic of Korea to promote understanding of and respect for different cultures and traditions and to foster a society where Korean nationals and foreign residents live together in harmony. Marking its 19th anniversary this year, the event was organized as a venue for harmony and interaction where foreign residents and citizens could come together.Approximately 1,200 foreign residents and citizens attended the event, alongside officials including Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs Ha Byeong-pil, Commissioner Park Jae-wan of the Incheon Immigration and Foreigners Office, Head of Global Citizenship Education Kim Woo-jong at the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education, and representatives of foreign resident organizations.Held prior to the official ceremony were pre-event performances featuring a traditional Nepalese dance and the Incheon Global Choir. On the other hand, during the commemorative ceremony, recommendations were presented to individuals who contributed to helping foreign residents settle in local communities and advancing social integration. The ceremony was followed by a congratulatory performance by the Uiseon Chinese Traditional Performance Group, adding a layer of significance to the event.A total of 16 experiential and promotional booths were also operated at the venue, allowing participants to experience cultures from around the world. Participants had the opportunity to experience directly traditional and everyday cultures from various countries while enjoying international foods and traditional games, naturally engaging with diverse cultures.The Together Day Drawing Contest was also held as an accompanying event, encouraging children to express their percept

Incheon Metropolitan City and Incheon Tourism Organization announced that they have selected 15 promising companies that will lead the tourism industry through the “2026 Incheon Tourism Startup Contest.”The contest targeted tourism-related startups established within the past seven years as well as prospective entrepreneurs, with the recruitment conducted across six categories: ▲ Preliminary (prospective entrepreneurs), ▲ Early Stage (within three years of establishment), ▲ Growth Stage (within three ~ seven years of establishment), ▲ Regional Coexistence (tourism venture companies certified by the Korea Tourism Organization or startups certified by tourism business support centers in other regions), ▲ Growth Plus+ I (companies seeking advanced-stage support after completing the Incheon Tourism Business Support Center’s startup-fostering program), and ▲ Growth Plus+ II (graduates of the Growth Plus+ program from 2024 to 2025).A total of 125 companies applied, recording a competition ratio of 8.3 to 1. Following document screening and presentation evaluations, 15 companies demonstrating innovation potential and strong execution capabilities in the tourism sector were ultimately selected.Early Stage selectees were SconAI (AI interpretation services), San Bong Woori (island tours for young adults), Glory (eco-friendly MICE packages), and Neulsol (Ganghwa tourism merchandise).The Growth Stage Startup category includes Gaehangro Injeolmi and Sochang Gallery (Sochang-themed souvenirs), and Baba Ground (specialized rural tourism packages).FOCC (history and fragrance tours) was selected in the Regional Coexistence category together with Growth Plus+ I welcoming Contemplative (local beverage brand), Geumpung Brewery (wellness sleep-healing tours), Minikhan Camping Mobility (island car camping tours), and In the Local (tourism souvenir select shop). Finally, AD Labs (tourist marketing solutions) was selected for Growth Plus+ II. These startups are expected t

- Customized information provided in six languages, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Myanmar, and Uzbek -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it has distributed local tax guide leaflets produced in six languages to improve convenience for foreign residents paying local taxes.As of March 2026, 95,898 foreign residents were registered in Incheon. The largest groups by nationality are Chinese (14.3%), Vietnamese (10.6%), Myanmar nationals (5.5%), Uzbeks (4.3%), and Mongolians (3.4%). As tax delinquencies among foreign residents are spread across a wide range of nationalities, the need for customized guidance to overcome language barriers has continued to be raised.The newly produced guide leaflets are available in six languages—Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Myanmar, and Uzbek—and include explanations of major local taxes such as resident tax and automobile tax, as well as payment methods. The leaflets also explain potential disadvantages resulting from tax delinquency, including restrictions on visa extensions, seizure of property and claims, and impoundment of vehicle license plates, in order to help foreign taxpayers better understand their obligations.To improve foreign residents’ understanding of local taxes, Incheon plans to place the leaflets at frequently visited institutions such as Multicultural Family Support Centers and Foreign Resident Support Centers. The city also plans to actively promote local tax payment methods by directly visiting related organizations.Incheon has also implemented the “Local Tax Delinquency Verification System Prior to Visa Extension,” which restricts visa extensions for delinquent foreign taxpayers. The city is pursuing delinquencies with the same level of enforcement applied to Korean nationals, including the garnishment of foreign worker insurance benefits (such as departure maturity payments and return travel funds) and dormant insurance funds.“We produced these multilingual guide leaflets to prevent cases i

- Project to improve park accessibility and convenience by reconnecting the interrupted green corridor; completion targeted for May next year -The Incheon Grand Park Office of Incheon Metropolitan City announced that construction on a pedestrian greenway* connecting Zones 2 and 3 of Central Park will begin on May 13 as part of the Central Park revitalization project.* Pedestrian Greenway: A pedestrian greenway refers to a landscaped pedestrian walkway where vehicle access is prohibited.Established in 2005, Central Park is the only belt-shaped park in Incheon, stretching 3.9 kilometers in length and 100 meters in width from Gwangyo-dong in Michuhol-gu to Ganseok-dong in Namdong-gu. The park has long served as a major urban green corridor and one of the city’s representative recreational spaces.However, because Central Park is divided into nine separate zones, park users have experienced inconvenience when moving between sections, as they were required to use pedestrian crosswalks. To address this issue, Incheon installed two pedestrian greenways, Gaongyo Bridge and Wolungyo Bridge, in 2020, receiving positive evaluations in user satisfaction surveys.In particular, citizens noted improvements in internal circulation routes and pedestrian safety within the park, leading the city government to pursue an additional project connecting Zones 2 and 3 of Central Park.The new pedestrian greenway will connect Zones 2 and 3 of Central Park through a steel pipe girder bridge measuring 3.5 meters in width, with a main bridge span of 38 meters and a total length of 111 meters. The project will be carried out with a total budget of KRW 4.3 billion.The project is designed to naturally reconnect the park’s green corridor, allowing citizens to move more freely throughout the park while ensuring safe and convenient access for all users, including transportation-vulnerable groups. Beyond its functional role as a connection route, the greenway will also feature a design that harmoniz