Incheon Metropolitan City, in collaboration with ChildFund Korea's Incheon Headquarters, announced plans to provide ₩360 million in asset-building support to 200 children from families receiving basic living security benefits and facing financial hardships.This year, the eligibility criteria for the child development accounts (CDA) program have been significantly expanded, now including children from households with a median income of 50% or below and those under 18. This is a notable increase from last year, which supported children from households with a median income of 40% or below and aged between 12 and 18. However, for children who are unable to deposit savings due to economic difficulties, Incheon and ChildFund Korea Incheon have partnered to connect these children to the Didim Seed account through public-private partnership.To achieve this goal, Incheon, in partnership with ChildFund Korea, is hosting a "Christmas in August" fundraising relay in the form of a “Santa challenge.”The challenge was launched in May by Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, and since then, it has seen active participation from many citizens. The fundraising relay will continue until the closing ceremony on August 28.Funds raised through this fundraiser will be used to provide a monthly donation of ₩50,000 per child for one year, beginning in September. Additionally, the government will contribute ₩100,000 per month per child in matching funds, creating a self-sustaining reserve of ₩1.8 million per year per child. With support for 200 children, the total asset accumulation will reach ₩360 million annually, comprising ₩120 million from sponsorships and ₩240 million from government matching.Incheon Metropolitan City's Director-General Si Hyeon-jeong for Gender Equality and Family stated, “The independence of children is a crucial issue that the community must address collectively. We are deeply grateful to the citizens, institutions and organizations who, alongside ChildFu

- Incheon’s childcare service for busy moms and dads- Over 300 dedicated caregivers available during early morning (6–8 AM) and late evening (8–10 PM) hours- Expanded infant care for children of 3 to 36 months to reduce wait timesThe Incheon Metropolitan Government will be launching a pilot program this month for the “Incheon i+Care” customized support initiative to address the gaps in childcare needs.As the demand for childcare during early morning hours and late evenings continues to rise due to the needs of working parents, most existing services remain focused on daytime hours, particularly around school drop-off and pick-up times.In response, the Incheon Metropolitan Government has announced plans to designate caregivers specifically for early morning (6–8 AM) and late evening (8–10 PM) shifts, offering an additional hourly caregiver allowance of KRW 1,000 to expand the coverage during those critical hours.According to a survey conducted in May, a total of 668 households in Incheon were put on hold for childcare services, with 333 of these households—representing 50 percent of the total—seeking care for infants aged up to 2 years. This underscores the shortage of caregivers relative to the high demand for infant care.Infant care, which requires frequent attention to tasks such as feeding, diaper changes, and sleep routines, is often less preferred by caregivers. To address this issue, Incheon plans to incentivize participation by offering an additional monthly allowance of KRW 50,000 to caregivers who provide care for infants aged between 3 and 36 months for at least 60 hours per month.The city secured a budget of KRW 272 million through a supplementary budget earlier for the pilot program set to commence in the second half of 2024. The program is subject to expansion in 2025 based on the outcomes of the pilot program.Si Hyun-jung, Director-General of the Gender Equality and Family Bureau at the Incheon Metropolitan Government, said, “This i

- Incheon’s islands promote their merits with their own themes:Ganghwado Island perfect to explore the past and present; Ongjin islands, worth revisitingThe Incheon Metropolitan Government will participate in the 5th Island Day Festival in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do to promote the values and merits of Incheon’s islands.The event, hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, will take place from Aug. 8 to 11 under the theme of “Wonderful islands of Incheon” to reflect the idea that the diverse charms of the islands bring joy, happiness, and hope to the people.Incheon has set up its own exhibition under the themes “Ganghwado Island, perfect to explore the past and present” and “Ongjin islands, worth revisiting.” In particular, the city is actively promoting its islands in collaboration with Gangwha-gun and Ongjin-gun by drawing inspiration from Palmido Island, home to Korea’s first modern lighthouse. For residents of the metropolitan area, Incheon’s islands are the closest destinations to enjoy marine sports, healing retreats, and tidal flat experiences. These islands also offer opportunities for visitors to savor regionally distinct cuisines and participate in a variety of specialized activities.To invigorate island tourism and stimulate the local economy, Incheon is actively pursuing a range of initiatives that leverage the islands’ ecological, historical, and cultural resources. These initiatives include improving residents’ living conditions and operating island tourism products.Notably, the city plans to elevate Baengnyeongdo, Daecheongdo, and Socheongdo Islands to international prominence by securing the Global Geoparks certification from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The plan is expected to enhance the global brand value of these islands, positioning them as world-renowned tourist destinations while fostering sustainable regional economic development.In addition, Incheon is under

Incheon Metropolitan City is looking for members to join its Global Promotion Team to help promote “Incheon as a City of 10 Million" to overseas Koreans and foreigners through social media. We welcome the participation of interested individuals.Recruitment Period: August 12, 2024 (Mon) - August 31, 2024 (Sat) (20 days)Number of Recruits: Approximately 10 peopleEligibility Criteria:a. Foreigners residing or staying in Korea who have no issues with their stay status according to relevant laws.b. Individuals who have a high understanding and interest in Incheon City and can communicate in Korean.c. Owners of personal SNS accounts (public accounts) who can create SNS content in foreign languages (English, Chinese, Japanese) and meet at least one of the following criteria.Activity Period: January 2025 - December 2025 (1 year)Activity Details: Upload personal SNS content after performing missions assigned by the city. (Example) Performing missions such as visiting Incheon city tourist attractions, participating in festivals, etc.Application Method and Required Documents:a. Application Method: Submit to the person in charge via email (withann@korea.kr)b. Required Documents: Promotion team application form (Attachment 1) and consent form for the collection and use of personal information (Attachment 2)Selection Criteria: Evaluation of social media activity* Number of followers (subscribers), number of posts, number of views, etc.Notification of Selection Results: September 9, 2024 (Mon)* Individual SMS notification for selected applicants onlyActivity Benefits:a. Payment of a modest fee for content creationb. Various participation opportunities in events and festivals hosted by Incheon Metropolitan CityOthers:a. If the submitted documents are found to be false, the individual may be excluded from selection, and the selection may be canceled even after being selected.b. Inquiries: Incheon Metropolitan City Overseas Koreans Cooperation Planning Division

- 2024 OKFriends Homecoming Teens Campa trip to Incheon for two nights and three days -- Visit to Incheon’s state-of-the-art companies and schools, accompanied by historical and cultural experiences -The Incheon Metropolitan Government announced the invitation of 1,200 overseas Korean teenagers to Incheon for the "2024 OKFriends Homecoming Teens Camp," hosted by the Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA) and supervised by the Overseas Koreans Cooperation Center (OKCC).Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok gave his welcoming speech at the “First 2024 OKFriends Homecoming Teens Camp,” held on Jul. 16 at Grand Hyatt Incheon.Since 2001, OKA and the OKCC have promoted the “OKFriends Homecoming Teens Camp” annually to lift the pride of next-generation overseas Koreans as Korean people and instill a sense of solidarity among domestic teenagers by offering an opportunity to experience Korea’s politics, economy, culture, and history.This year, the camp invites 1,200 overseas Korean teenagers, divided into four sessions, to visit Incheon, Gyeongju, and Seoul on a six-night, seven-day trip starting Jul. 15. Being the largest camp by far in the program’s history, 600 teenagers from Incheon also joined the overseas Koreans during their two-night, three-day stay in the city.This OKFriends Homecoming Teen Camp is the first massive event held in Incheon since OKA’s foundation in the city. For overseas Korean teenagers who were not yet familiar with Korean culture, the Incheon Metropolitan Government demonstrated the city’s vision and charm as a city of 10 million that embraces overseas Koreans.Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok is taking a commemorative photograph with other participants, including Lee Key-cheol, OKA’s Commissioner, at the “First 2024 OKFriends Homecoming Teens Camp,” held on Jul. 16 at Grand Hyatt Incheon.During their stay in Incheon, the camp participants visited high schools within the city district (Ara High School in Seo-gu, Gyeyang High School in Gyeyang-gu) to

- Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok announces “I + House Dream” housing policy, following up on the “₩100M + I Dream” parenting policy - - Unprecedented “₩1,000 rent” subsidized housing policy and 1% subsidized mortgage loan interest - The Incheon Metropolitan Government announced its new “₩1,000 Rent” (daily rate) policy to provide subsidized housing for newlyweds and engaged couples, and “I + House Dream” policy, which offers additional 1% subsidy for mortgage loan interest. Subsidizing ₩1,000 daily rent and 1% mortgage loan interest to take action against the low fertility rate Incheon’s “I + House Dream” policy provides subsidized housing to newly married couples to reduce the burden of high housing prices by offering additional interest support on existing bank loan benefits, such as special loans for newborns, for couples with children who receive mortgage loans in hopes of having their own homes. First, Incheon is supplying subsidized housing with a daily rent rate of ₩1,000, in which renters can apply for city-owned public “purchased lease” houses or private “jeonse lease” houses at a daily rate of ₩1,000 (monthly rate of ₩30,000). As for the latter, the city has to enter into a “jeonse” agreement with the landlord to provide applicants with the private house of their choice (e.g., apartment with an area of exclusive use no larger than 85 square meters). Eligible are newlyweds who have been married for no longer than seven years and engaged couples, who can receive support for two to six years. Meanwhile, the city government expects to supply 1,000 houses per year with this policy. Average monthly rent“₩1,000 rent”Monthly savingsPrivate house rent: ₩760,000 Purchased lease rent: ₩280,000 Jeonse lease rent: ₩380,000⇨₩1,000 per day (₩30,000 per month)⇨Private house: ↓ ₩730,000 Purchased lease: ↓ ₩250,000 Jeonse lease: ↓ ₩350,000 Overview of Incheon’s subsidized housing support for newlywe

- Gregory Washington, the President of George Mason University, met with Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority Commissioner Yoon Won-seok, discussing the achievements of Mason Korea over the past ten years, its future vision, and the possibility of campus expansionGregory Washington, the President of George Mason University, visited Korea to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the opening of George Mason University Korea (Mason Korea). During his visit, he met with Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok on June 11 to express appreciation for Incheon's support and to discuss future goals.This meeting was also attended by Megan Healy, President, and Special Assistant to the Washington American Campus; Robert Matz, Mason Korea Campus Dean; Kelley Chung, Adjunct Director of Admissions and Office of Government Cooperation; Yoon Won-seok, Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority Commissioner; and Kim Jong-hwan, Head of the Investment Attraction Headquarters.President Washington introduced the tenth-anniversary event of Mason Korea to Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and expressed gratitude for the generous support that has helped the university grow in Korea. Afterward, they discussed plans for expanding the Mason Korea Campus and extending its operations, including opening a research center.President Washington stated, “It has been valuable to reflect on the past ten years with Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, during which Mason Korea took root and shared a vision for the future. We will further expand the cooperation so Mason Korea and Incheon can advance together.”Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok said, “Congratulations on Mason Korea’s tenth anniversary, and thank you for your contribution to enhancing the reputation of the Incheon Global Campus,” and noted, “In 2024, IGC’s student recruitment rate also increased significantly, fulfilling the purpose of creating IGC, which is to nurture global talent. Mason Korea plays a major role in discovering talent and enhancing co

- Another achievement following the early opening of KTX and GTX-B lines and becoming the second largest city in Koreawith 3 million population and KRW 100 trillion economy --12,996 residents respond to Incheon’s survey onits 10 major projects -Incheon citizens selected the Incheon I-Pass and Metropolitan I-Pass as the best projects of Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok’s achievements during the second year of his term. Incheon I-Pass and Metropolitan I-Pass are Incheon’s two subsidy projects for public transportation costs based on the Korean government’s K-Pass.The Incheon Metropolitan Government gathered citizens’ opinions on its crucial projects during the second year of the term after the 8th Local Elections through a survey to apply them to future policies.The survey consisted of a five-point scale for 10 key projects implemented during the term. The selected projects are as follows (highest to lowest): (1) unlimited subsidies for public transportation costs through Incheon I-Pass and Metropolitan I-Pass (4.38 pts); (2) construction of Incheon-departing KTX by 2025 and initiation of the GTX-B construction by March this year (4.34 pts); and (3) reaching 3 million registered population and achieving an economy worth KRW 100 trillion, settling in as Korea’s second largest city in terms of economy (4.19 pts).Next to the top 3 projects were (4) the recovery of Incheon’s five streams to preserve natural ecology (4.14 pts); (5) a fully-fledged investment into Incheon to reach new heights as one of the global top 10 cities (4.04 pts); and (6) 100M+ i Dream, Incheon’s childbirth policy (4.02 pts).As for the establishment of a new administrative system (3.98 pts), Dream For Youth Account (3.95 pts), and half-price shipping fee for micro-enterprises (3.93 pts), citizens of regions and social classes closely related to such projects proved to show more interest.According to the survey results, the respondents all marked high scores on Incheon’s top 10 projects, while t

- To be held for two days from Jul. 20 (Sat.) to Jul. 21 (Sun.)in Incheon Songdo Convensia;Around 3,000 participants including 300 players from 15 countriesscheduled to participate -Incheon City and Incheon Tourism Organization announced that Songdo Convensia will host the “2024 K-Darts Festival” for two days from Jul. 20 (Sat.) to Jul. 21 (Sun.).K-Darts Festival Promotion Poster As the world’s largest electronic dart festival, the K-Darts Festival was held under the name “Phoenix Summer Dart Festival” in 2010 and later changed to its current name in 2023 and relocated to Incheon.Starting with the Korea-Japan contest in 2007 when the Japanese team was invited, the festival became an international competition after Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau joined as participants. In 2012, the festival grew to become the world’s largest international dart contest as teams from European countries such as Spain, France, and Portugal and others, including the United States, Malaysia, and Singapore, became players.This year, around 3,000 members including 300 players from 15 countries around the world, such as the United States, France, Singapore, and Japan, will participate in the festival in Songdo Convensia, where they will compete against each other in singles, group contests, and national team competitions.“I am deeply honored that Incheon had the chance to hold the K-Darts Festival, the largest dart-throwing competition in the world. We will do everything we can to enhance Incheon’s city brand image and promote the local economy through support for holding massive global sports events,” said Kim Chung-jin, Head of the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau.The 2024 K-Darts Festival is hosted by the Korean Dart Association and sponsored by Incheon City, Incheon Tourism Organization, and Phoenix Dart. Players who wish to participate can apply at the event’s official website(https://summerfestival.phoenixdarts.com/) by Jul. 8, 2024.

- Centers to serve as a space for interaction and exchanges betweenoverseas Koreans --Support for overseas Korean companies’ business activities andeconomic cooperation -The Overseas Koreans Welcome Center—which will facilitate interaction and exchanges between overseas Koreans—and the Koreans’ Business Center, which will support the business activities of overseas Korean entrepreneurs and attract their investments, will open in Booyoung Songdo Tower.Incheon City finalized in April the “Basic and Demonstrative Design to Welcome Overseas Koreans” to open the Overseas Koreans Welcome Center and disclosed that it will house a shared office space, a conference room, a seminar hall, and a lounge.The city government is currently carrying out administrative procedures for the construction contract; the center will open in the second half of the year after about three months of construction.Yun Hyeon-mo, Chief of the Global Business Cooperation Bureau, is briefing the reporters on the current matters of his department at the City Hall’s briefing room on Jun. 20Incheon City initiated the establishment of the Overseas Koreans Welcome Center as a key business of the “10 Million City Incheon Project” as part of the mission to emerge as one of the world’s top ten cities along with the opening of the Overseas Koreans Agency’s branch on Jun. 5.The welcome center will create and run a website to provide various kinds of information on Incheon, such as the city’s housing, medical care, tourism, and education, in an integrated manner.The center will also provide a wide range of facilities within its area to offer a space for interaction and exchanges between overseas Koreans.The Koreans’ Business Center will actively support the economic activities of overseas Koreans in their home country by providing business information, investment attraction counseling and consultation support, and free office space for overseas Korean entrepreneurs and companies.“With