- Therme Group conducts site survey and preliminary inspectionsfollowing last month’s investment pledge -The senior leadership of Therme Group, a global wellbeing spa resort company that pledged investment during Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok’s European tour, visited Incheon and paid a return visit to the mayor.Mayor Yoo visited Therme Group, a global wellbeing spa resort company, while in Romania on a tour of Europe in February. While there, he observed the facilities and operations, and received a pledge of investment from Therme Group. The Therme Group CEO also visited Incheon to check the site of the project and meet with Mayor Yoo.Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and Therme CEO Dr. Robert Hanea take a photo at the Incheon Free Economic Zone offices following discussions for cooperative measuresMayor Yoo Jeong-bok and Therme CEO Dr. Robert Hanea take a photo at the Incheon Free Economic Zone offices following discussions for cooperative measuresDiscussions with Therme GroupThe Therme senior leadership, including CEO Dr. Robert Hanea, Senior Vice President Stelian Iacob, VP for Energy and Engineering Viorel Beltechi, Global CEO Mariana Suciu, Lead Architect Luminata Tbirca, and chemical engineer Loana Stanescu, visited the site for on-site surveys and inspections, in addition to concluding the agreement and getting substantial project preparations underway.CEO Dr. Robert Hanea said, “I really like the space. Therme will build a landmark resort in this space that can represent Incheon and all of South Korea.”Therme Group Korea will complete site surveys and submit project plans by the second half of 2024, doing everything possible to conclude the lease agreement by June 2025.Mayor Yoo said, “I welcome the return visit by Therme Group and I want to express my gratitude for their quick visit following their submission of an investment pledge so that the project can commence. The city will do everything it can to provide administrative support.”Meanwhile, the partnership betwee

- Second meeting following February trip to Europe … Discussions to strengthenestablishment of wind power industry-- Leading the way to safe and clean energy production as well as attracting investment and creating jobs in the wind power industry-On Mar. 6, Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok met with Lars Aagaard, the Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, and Per Mejnert Kristensen, the Ørsted President of Asia Pacific, to discuss cooperation in the offshore wind power industry.This partnership comes following Mayor Yoo's trip to Copenhagen, Denmark last February, when the Incheon-Ørsted Offshore Wind Power Local Industry Development Cooperation MoU was concluded.Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and Danish Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities Lars Aagaard take a photo at the Federation ofKorean Industries in Yeouido, Seoul following discussions on cooperation for the offshore wind power industry on Mar. 6.This day, the mayor requested cooperation while in discussion with Minister Aagaard and President Kristensen for taking steps to transform Incheon into a leading area for offshore wind power. Incheon is set to construct an offshore wind farm to generate 6.2 GW of energy, according to the city's initiative toward carbon neutrality and local economic development by 2030. The government-led project is expected to cost a total of KRW 31 trillion in cooperation with private companies such as Ørsted.Discussions with the Danish Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities(from left, Ørsted President of Asia Pacific Per Mejnert Kristensen, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Danish Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities Lars Aagaard, and Ambassador of Denmark to the Republic of Korea Svend OllingPer Mejnert Kristensen, Ørsted President of Asia Pacific during discussions on cooperationBoth sides established joint goals for the successful realization of the Incheon offshore wind power project and reaffirmed their efforts for the development of the industry for Ørsted’s coexistence

- OWI Partners will invest USD 5 billion, showing interest inland development projects, energy, and agriculture –Panepinto Global Partners will invest USD 1 billion inurban development projects within IFEZMayor Yoo Jeong-bok of Incheon Metropolitan City has received interest from global investment firms for large-scale investments.Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok receives an investment letter of intent from Rabelin Tchoumi, Chairman of OWI Partners, at the Pullman Hotel in Paris, France, on Feb. 26 (local time)Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok receives an investment letter of intent from Joseph Panepinto Jr., President of Panepinto Global Partners, at the Pullman Hotel in Paris, France, on Feb. 26 (local time)According to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority on Feb. 27, the total investment intentions of these two investment firms amount to USD 6 billion.Mayor Yoo received investment letters of intent of USD 5 billion and USD 1 billion, respectively, from One World Impact (OWI) Partners based in the UK and Panepinto Global Partners, a real estate development company based in the US, during his visit to Paris, France on Feb. 26 (local time).Mayor Yoo first met with Rabelin Tchoumi, Chairman of OWI Partners, and received a letter of intent for a USD 5 billion investment in several fields, including large-scale land development projects, energy, and agriculture, within Incheon.Chairman Tchoumi leverages networks in Africa and the Middle East to engage in various asset management and commodity-related investments. The letter of intent was submitted in response to OWI Partners' inquiries about funding large-scale government-led projects in Incheon.Joseph Panepinto Jr., President of Panepinto Global Partners, also submitted an investment letter of intent to Mayor Yoo. Panepinto Global Partners expressed their intention to invest USD 1 billion in urban development projects within the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), encouraging Incheon's active cooperation.Panepinto Global Partners, a real e

Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok visited Therme Romania and held an investment commitment ceremonySite survey and plan submission will be completed by theend of the year, under the Mayor's commitment toensuring project execution and successThe Therme Group confirmed its intention to invest in a global wellness spa resort planned for development in Songdo Golden Harbor.On Feb. 24 (local time), Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok of Incheon Metropolitan City visited the recently established Therme Resort in Romania to see the facilities and held a “Letter of Commitment Signing Ceremony” with the Therme Group.Photo taken on Feb. 24 (local time), when Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok received a letter of commitment from Chairman Robert Hanea during the “Letter of Commitment Signing Ceremony” held at the Therme Wellness Resort in Bucharest, RomaniaAt the event, Therme Group expressed its commitment to support Therme Group Korea in developing a world-class wellness resort, including a spa and water park, in Songdo Golden Harbor. They pledged to complete the site survey and submit a business plan by the end of this year with Therme's support at the global level. Therme Group showed its unwavering determination for the project by submitting an investment commitment letter, reassuring its plan to sign a land lease by Jun. 2025.Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and Chairman Robert Hanea after receiving the letter of commitmentThe Therme Group currently operates a total of four wellness spas and resorts in Romania and Germany, through both direct ownership and operational partnerships. In particular, Therme Bucharest in Romania, which opened in 2016, has become Europe's largest wellness and relaxation spot, attracting 1.5 million visitors annually.The Therme Wellness Resort offers a nature-friendly leisure space with a domed indoor spa open 365 days a year, complemented by a botanical garden. The Therme Group's water purification, air purification, and ozone water treatment systems demonstrate the company's expertise in cut

Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok announced his vision for a global Korean culture town at a meeting with the Association of Korean Residents in Europe.City exploring an evolution from conventional real estate deals involving overseas Koreans... Also reviewing real estate development and healthcare REITsMayor promises, “A thorough review of proposed plans and to work on creating a living environment with tangible benefits for overseas Koreans”Incheon unveiled its blueprint for a new global Korean culture town.Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, who is on an official trip to Europe, explained his vision for a new global Korean culture town at a meeting with the Association of Korean Residents in Europe held in Frankfurt, Germany, on February 24 (local time).Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok takes a commemorative photo after a meeting with Yoo Je-heon, President of the Association of Korean Residents in Europe, and other overseas Koreans at the “Global Korean Culture Town Meeting” in Frankfurt, Germany, on February 23 (local time).Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok meets with Yoo Je-hun, President of the Association of Korean Residents in Europe, and other overseas Koreans at the “Global Korean Culture Town Meeting” in Frankfurt, Germany, on February 23 (local time).Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok said, “We plan to select a place that’s owned by the City and our public corporations, which means they can be developed quicker than other sites. We’re looking for a competitive location that can help us attract foreign investment.” The Mayor continued, “Considering that most overseas Koreans skew to the older end of the age spectrum, medical services are important. The City will consider building a large general hospital near the global Korean culture town.”Currently, Incheon City is reviewing several candidate sites within the Incheon Free Economic Zone. Moreover, the Mayor explained that, like the Songdo American Town, the City will keep the direct investment approach with individual real est

- City agrees to improve local viability, build infrastructure, and grow the offshore wind power supply chain -- Ørsted is the world’s no. 1 offshore wind power company...In 2023, it secured the rights to Korea's largest power generation project -Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok has agreed to join forces with Ørsted, the world's no. 1 offshore wind power company, to expand its offshore wind power supply chain.Incheon says it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Incheon-Østed offshore wind power project with Ørsted A/S, a Danish state-owned corporation and worldwide leader in offshore wind power, in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 22 (local time). The agreement is expected to help establish a robust foundation for the offshore wind power industry in the Incheon region going forward.Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and Thomas Thune Andersen, Chair of the Board of Directors at Ørsted A/S, pose for a photo at the “Incheon-Østed Offshore Wind Power and Regional Industry Development Cooperation MOU Signing Ceremony” inside Ørsted’s headquarters (Copenhagen, Denmark) on February 22 (local time) Tour of Ørsted’s headquarters in Copenhagen, DenmarkLast November, Ørsted secured the rights to build a couple of offshore wind power plants (1.6GW capacity) off the coast of Incheon and the nearby Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). When complete, the project will become the largest single complex in Korea with a total of USD 6 billion (KRW 7.9872 trillion) in investments.The MOU was signed by Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and Thomas Thune Andersen, Chair of the Board of Directors at Ørsted A/S. The signing ceremony was attended by Lars Aagaard, Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, and Svend Olling, the Danish Ambassador to Korea.Under this new agreement, Incheon will support Ørsted’s offshore wind power project and offer administrative assistance in terms of establishing necessary policies and building the right infrastructure for the wind power

- 22 automated collection machines powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to be installed in 2024 to collect more transparent plastic bottles -Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it is expanding its network of Incheon Resource Recycling Stores from 82 to 99 locations this year to boost the collection rate of recyclables and encourage proper recycling.If you bring clean recyclables to the Incheon Resource Recycling Store, you will be paid in cash (or redeemable points) based on weight. This means you can earn some money while doing your part in recycling resources.Incheon is the first metropolitan city to begin a pilot Resource Recycling Store project across 17 locations in three districts in 2021. In 2022, it recovered 302 tons of recyclables at 56 locations in eight districts, and paid out KRW 72 million in cash (redeemable points). Last year, Ongjin-gun, one of Incheon’s larger islands, was also incorporated into the network, bringing the total number of Resource Recycling Stores to 82 across nine Gu/Gun districts. Through its network, Incheon collected 1,162 tons and 19 types of recyclables, including transparent PET bottles, and paid out KRW 669 million.Each store in the Incheon Resource Recycling Store program, now in its 4th year, has different names - RE-Shop (Jung-gu), Dong-gu Market (Dong-gu), Meet-you Resource Recycling Store (Michuhol-gu), Eoullim Store (Bupyeong), Mysterious Treasure Store (Gyeyang), Seoro e-Eum Store (Seo-gu), etc. - and opens at different hours. Each Gun/Gu district has its own operating policies as well.Incheon Resource Recycling Store in Michuhol-guIncheon Resource Recycling Store in Gyeyang-guAutonomous collection machine powered by AI in Seo-guThis year, Incheon plans to invest KRW 440 million in City funding to install 22 autonomous collection machines powered by AI technology in four districts, and use them to collect transparent plastic bottles that can be used to make food containers, apparel, shoes, and bags.A City off

- 19cm-long pencil tells the long story of Incheon -- Exhibition starting on February 14 at the Pencil Museum,the first of its kind in Korea built to tell the history of pencils -Incheon says it plans on showcasing city brand pencils at the Pencil Museum located in Donghae-si, Gangwon-do, starting February 14.The Pencil Museum is Korea's first pencil museum and cultural art venue, with over 3,000 different types of pencils sorted by country and concept.Exhibition of Incheon's city brand pencils at the Pencil MuseumPencils from Incheon will go on display along with other pencils from globally renowned companies such as the National Gallery Singapore, BMW, Cartier, and Samsung. Visitors can see and compare the brand identity engraved on each pencil measuring just 19cm.Incheon’s city brand () pencil embodies the city by combining three different elements: Incheon’s slogan “All Ways Incheon,” the diagonal shape that symbolizes “the dynamic spirit of Incheon challenging the future,” and colors that capture the sky and sea of Incheon.The City believes that its city brand pencil at the Pencil Museum will provide an opportunity to introduce Incheon to visitors and raise public awareness of Incheon by showcasing it shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best-known brands both from Korea and abroad.A City official said, “As times change, more people are using electronic devices rather than pencil and paper. But the chaffing and rubbing sound and unique texture of a pencil are still valuable.” He added, “We hope that this exhibition will be an opportunity to feel the value and beauty of our City’s own brand applied to everyday objects.”Meanwhile, Incheon sells various souvenirs, including pencils, via the e-eum app (Incheon e-mall - Incheon direct purchase - Other - Incheon tourism products). For further details, please contact the Public Relations Planning Division (☎ 032-440-3084).

- City talks to local vendors and agrees to lower the maximum speed limit from 25km to 20km -- City also significantly strengthens safety, with proposal to mandate verification for minors up to 16 years old driving without a license -Incheon Metropolitan City is strengthening its control over personal mobility (PM) devices, including electric scooters, with lower speed limits.The City recently hosted a meeting with four local vendors offering shared personal mobility (PM) services such as electric scooters and electric bicycles, and agreed to lower the maximum speed limit to 20kph and mandate a verification process for users up to 16 years of age.Best Driver Association supporters moving and organizing PM devicesParking and recharging (SU:M Station) PM devicesAccording to the Road Traffic Act, the maximum speed limit for a PM device is 25kph. However, Incheon and local vendors decided to lower the maximum speed of electric scooters and other devices to 20kph from February 5.Industry data and analysis revealed that the average speed of PM devices in Incheon was, in fact, slower than 20kph in real-life conditions due to crosswalks, other PM users, pedestrians, hills, etc.Also, results from a survey by the Samsung Transportation Safety Culture Research Institute showed that “if the maximum speed of an electric scooter is reduced to 20kph, the stopping distance can be reduced by 26% and the force of impact by 36%, preventing accidents and reducing the possibility of serious injury in the event of an accident.”Meanwhile, the City agreed to mandate the age verification for users up to 16 years of age. Minors under the age of 16 cannot drive a shared electric scooter without verification, and users over the age of 16 need at least a motorcycle license to use an electric scooter.With the number of younger users misappropriating other people’s IDs or riding PM devices in tandem with other passengers (two to three passengers total) skyrocketing, Incheon is looking to pr

- Incheon first in the country to install benchesmade of recycled coffee grounds -- Recycling coffee grounds has significant environmental valueand creates jobs in low-income districts –Incheon Metropolitan City says it installed the very first batch of benches in Korea made with recycled coffee grounds at the Incheon Aetteul Square right in front of City Hall and at a cafe inside City Hall.Recycled coffee ground bench at the cafe inside City HallThese recycled coffee ground benches are made of composite lumber with used coffee grounds, most of which are discarded as general waste. Four benches are available at Aetteul Suare in front of City Hall and one additional bench is available at a cafe inside the City Hall building itself.Recycled coffee ground bench at Aetteul Square in front of City HallIncheon signed an agreement with Dongha Co., Ltd. to promote the recycling of coffee grounds under the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute's “Validation Test Support Project using Environmental Infrastructure.”The City has participated in the coffee ground recycling initiative since 2019, and it signed a business agreement with local “self-sufficiency centers” in July 2022. In 2023 alone, Incheon collected almost 340 tons of coffee grounds for recycling.Coffee grounds are recycled into wooden decking, barn bedding, pencils, and flower pots, and the total volume of collected used coffee grounds increased by more than 50% compared to the previous year.Incheon plans to continue to push forward with its coffee recycling project by cooperating with each district (Gu) office and local self-sufficiency centers in order to add to its list of participating cafes.Choi Myeong-hwan, head of Incheon's Resource Circulation Department, said, “I hope that this will serve as an opportunity for locals who come to Aetteul Square to think about the value of creating a virtuous cycle of turning discarded waste products into valuable resources as they sit and relax