- ₩32.2 billion, including national funding, allocated for the 2025 Special Regional Development Project -

- Expected improvements in residential environments and revitalization of the tourism industry -

Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced on Feb. 28 that it finalized a total of 41 projects under the 2025 Special Regional Development Project, comprising 15 projects in Ganghwa-gun and 26 in Ongjin-gun, and notified the respective counties of the 2025 implementation plan.

The initiative aims to enhance the welfare of residents in designated special regional areas and foster the sustainable development of island communities.

Special regional areas refer to islands designated for development under the Island Development Promotion Act and border regions defined by the Special Act on Support for Border Area. In Incheon, this includes 32 designated islands as well as the border regions of Ganghwa-gun and Ongjin-gun.

As part of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Special Regional Development Project, the initiatives qualified for 80% of national funding through the Special Account for Regional Balanced Development. This year, a total of ₩32.2 billion will be invested in the program, including ₩25.8 billion from national funds.

Key projects for 2025 include the Baengnyeongdo Multipurpose Community Center (₩11.6 billion; two stories with a total floor area of 2,392 m²), Daecheongdo Village Cultural Complex (₩2.9 billion; two stories with a total floor area of 494.8 m²), and Deokjeokdo Public Bathhouse (₩3 billion; one story with a total floor area of 400 m²). These facilities are scheduled to open in the latter half of the year, and upon completion, they are expected to significantly improve the quality of life for island residents.

The city government also plans to invest ₩3.9 billion to construct a 575-meter-long coastal deck at 505-9 Yeonpyeong-ri, Yeonpyeongdo. This project will create a waterfront leisure space where visitors can marvel at Yeonpyeongdo’s striking rock formations and coastal landscapes. The initiative is expected to attract more tourists, bolster the island’s tourism industry, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents.

₩3.3 billion will also be allocated for the Black-faced Spoonbill Eco Center project in Yeocha-ri, Hwado-myeon, Ganghwa-gun. The existing Ganghwa Mudflat Center will be transformed into an ecological learning hub dedicated to spoonbill conservation, with additional improvements to the surrounding sunset trail landscape. The initiative will contribute to environmental awareness efforts, particularly in protecting the black-faced spoonbill and the benthic organisms inhabiting the southern Ganghwa mudflats.

Incheon Maritime Affairs and Aviation Director General Lee Dong-woo stated, “We will continue to secure national funding for the Special Regional Development Project to improve the residential environment for Ganghwa and Ongjin residents, who face unique geographical challenges. We will also do our best to revitalize tourism, preserve the natural environment, and advance cultural and welfare initiatives.”

(Architectural rendering of the Baengnyeongdo Multipurpose Community Center)