IFEZ Opens Bioprocess Human Resources Training Center 

Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) announced that it has officially opened the Bioprocess Human Resources Training Center at Yonsei University International Campus, marking the beginning of full-scale operations.

The launch of the center is expected to serve as a major milestone for Incheon in establishing itself as a global hub for bioprocess workforce development and solidifying its position as the center of Korea’s bio industry.

This government-led establishment of a bioprocess workforce training facility is the third in the world, following European countries(Ireland) and the United States, and the first in Asia.

Toll Fees Fully Exempted for Yeongjong, Cheongna, and Bukdo-myeon Residents Using the Third Incheon Bridge

IFEZ announced that online pre-registration for toll exemptions will begin at 10 AM on December 1. Residents of Yeongjong, Cheongna, and Bukdo-myeon will be eligible for toll relief once the Third Incheon Bridge opens in January 2026.

Pre-registration is a required procedure for residents to receive toll exemptions after the bridge opens, and applications can be submitted through a designated online portal.

Eligible applicants include vehicles owned by residents registered in Yeongjong, Cheongna, or Bukdo-myeon, in accordance with Article 4-2 of the Incheon Metropolitan City Toll Road Ordinance. Only those who complete pre-registration in the ‘Third Incheon Bridge Toll Exemption System’ will receive toll benefits.

Three Companies Win “2025 Beautiful Factory Awards” in Incheon

Incheon Metropolitan City and Incheon Technopark announced that award plaques were unveiled yesterday (25th) at Youil Robotics, a leading industrial robot developer, and Green Resource, both located in the Seo-gu High-Tech Industrial Complex, in celebration of the 2025 Beautiful Factory Awards.

The “Beautiful Factory Awards,” now in its 10th year, is an annual program launched in 2016 to promote improvements to aging industrial facilities and encourage corporate innovation.

This year, seven companies recommended by local districts and SME-support organizations were evaluated by experts. Youil Robotics, Green Resource, and World Wel were ultimately selected as the “Most Beautiful Factories in Incheon for 2025.”

With Catch of Spanish Mackerel Tripling, Incheon Wins Encouragement Award for Regulatory Innovation

Incheon Metropolitan City announced that it received the Encouragement Award at the 2025 Local Regulatory Innovation Best Practices Competition hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on November 25. The award recognized the city’s initiative titled “Adjusting the Spanish Mackerel Closed Season for Two Consecutive Years — Delivering a Real ‘Income UP’ Effect for Incheon Fishers.”

Incheon was the only local government nationwide to reflect actual fishing conditions in its jurisdiction, adjusting the closed season from the previous one-month period in May to April 10 through May 10. This regulatory improvement has generated dual outcomes: boosting fishers’ actual income and reducing marine pollution.

Judges praised the initiative for its practical income enhancement, effective marine pollution prevention, and high potential for benchmarking by other regions, ultimately selecting Incheon as the winner of the Encouragement Award.

Incheon’s Harbor Seal Friends Mascots Win Grand Prize at Korea Character Awards

Incheon Metropolitan City announced that its official mascot characters, the Harbor Seal Friends, won the Grand Prize at the “2025 Korea Character Awards.”

The awards evaluate creativity, business model, public awareness, and contribution to the character industry, selecting 30 outstanding works across industrial, public, and local government categories.

Incheon’s characters received high marks for their unique worldbuilding and storytelling, which have contributed to establishing a distinctive city brand identity rooted in regional symbols and natural heritage.

Incheon Airport Launches Pilot Operation of Integrated Taxi Dispatch System

Incheon International Airport Corporation announced that, in cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Incheon City, Seoul City, and Gyeonggi Province, it will begin a six-month pilot operation of an integrated taxi dispatch system at Terminal 1.

The new system replaces the previous taxi queue areas, formally separated by region, with a single unified boarding line, allowing passengers to take the next available taxi in order regardless of destination.

Under the integrated system, more than 10 groups of passengers can board simultaneously—compared to just 3–4 groups per region previously—helping significantly reduce congestion at the taxi stand.

Sources: https://news.ifm.kr