Incheon City to Ban 'Vehicle Idling' Across All Areas Starting January 1st

Starting New Year's Day, vehicle idling will be prohibited across all areas of Incheon City.

The city announced yesterday (the 2nd) that from January 1st, idling of motorcycles and automobiles will be completely banned in all areas (only Yeongheung-myeon included for Ongjin-gun), with violations subject to a fine of 50,000 won.

To improve air quality and minimize resident inconvenience from exhaust fumes and noise, the city strengthened vehicle idling restrictions through the amendment of the 'Incheon City Vehicle Idling Restriction Ordinance' in June. Accordingly, from January 1st, 2025, the vehicle idling restriction area will be expanded to all areas of Incheon City, and existing idling restriction areas such as terminals, parking lots, and multi-use facilities will be designated as 'priority idling restriction areas' for special management.

Incheon City Produces New National Intangible Cultural Heritage Bearer

Incheon City held a communication meeting on the 27th at the City Hall conference room, inviting National Intangible Cultural Heritage bearers.

This meeting was organized to celebrate the emergence of a new National Intangible Cultural Heritage bearer in Incheon for the first time in 11 years, and to express gratitude to the heritage bearers who are dedicated to transmitting intangible cultural heritage.

Mayor Yoo Jung-bok personally listened to the difficulties and needs that participants face in preserving and transmitting traditional culture, while encouraging their hard work.

Incheon City to Hold 'New Year's Eve Cultural Festival'

On the last day of this year, the New Year's Eve bell will ring throughout Incheon.

The city announced on the 29th that it will hold the '2024 New Year's Eve Cultural Festival' at the outdoor plaza of the Incheon Culture and Arts Center on December 31st.

The highlight of the event, the New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony, will take place at midnight. Fifteen citizen representatives will ring the bell 33 times to herald the start of the new year.

A city official stated, "We hope many citizens will participate in this meaningful event to warmly conclude this year and welcome the hopeful new year. We invite everyone to create wonderful memories with their beloved family, partners, and friends while enjoying various cultural events, the New Year's Eve bell-ringing ceremony, and fireworks."

Incheon City to Fully Implement 'Cashless Buses' from 2025

Incheon City will fully implement 'cashless buses' starting January 1st of next year.

This policy aims to improve citizen convenience and operational efficiency through transportation card-only boarding.

The city expects this change will prevent accident risks that can occur during cash payments on buses, avoid delays caused by giving change, and reduce the workload of transportation workers who previously had to manage fare boxes.

For routes in the Ganghwa and Ongjin regions, where alternative transportation like subways is limited and cash usage among the elderly population is high, the policy will be implemented later after monitoring passenger usage patterns.

Sources: https://news.ifm.kr