Incheon to help more families with newborns through mortgage interest support

Incheon Metropolitan City will continue last year’s program to reduce housing cost burdens for households with newborn babies this year by supporting mortgage interest. The city will accept applications through March from households that currently receive support to confirm if they still meet eligibility requirements, and continue providing support. In July, the city will recruit 3,000 new households in addition to existing beneficiaries. Eligible households are those with children born between January 2025 and June 2026 who have a combined annual income of 130 million won or less. The applicants must have applied for a mortgage loan for homes that are located in Incheon with exclusive floor area of 85 square meters or less and actual transaction prices of 600 million won or less. Families must also be one household owning and living in one home, with all family members registered at the address.

Incheon exports top 60 billion dollars for the first time

Exports from the Incheon area exceeded 60 billion dollars for the first time last year, setting an all-time high. According to the “2025 Incheon Trade Evaluation Report” released by the Incheon Branch of the Korea International Trade Association, exports totaled 60.1 billion dollars, up 1.0 percent from the previous year. This is the highest figure since trade statistics were first compiled in 2000. As a result, Incheon’s trade balance has returned to surplus for the first time since 2017, improving by 5 billion dollars from the previous year.

Incheon checks medical readiness in island areas ahead of integrated care rollout

Officials from Incheon Metropolitan City and the Ministry of Health and Welfare have boarded the hospital ship “Health Ongjinho,” to review health care conditions for island residents. The hospital ship sails around Ongjin-gun, and the latest visit was arranged to check preparedness for integrated care services, and to hear voices from the field ahead of the enforcement of the Integrated Care Support Act on March 27. The city plans to prepare various support measures in line with the launch of integrated care, so that island residents, especially those with limited mobility, can receive better medical care and long-term care services, in addition to treatment provided by the hospital ship.

Incheon to expand interview outfit support for young job seekers

Incheon Metropolitan City will expand the “Dream Narae,” or Interview Outfit Support Program for Youth, to reduce job search costs and provide practical support for employment preparation. The program allows free rental of interview outfits such as suits, shirts or blouses, dress shoes, and ties. It was launched to ease the financial burden young people face due to longer job searches and more interview stages. Last year, about 5,000 free suit rentals were provided amid strong interest from youths. Reflecting this demand, the city has expanded support to about 6,000 cases this year.

Incheon selects this year’s “Three Colors, Three Books” Incheon Book titles

The Incheon Metropolitan City Library has finalized three books for the 2026 “Three Colors, Three Books Incheon Books” campaign, to promote a reading culture shared by citizens. The three books have been chosen by category; one for adults, teenagers and children respectively. Now in its 12th year, the campaign is part of the city’s “One City, One Book” reading movement, where local librarians select books by theme and run linked programs such as book concerts, and reading discussions to promote reading among citizens. All Incheon residents can take part in Incheon Book programs, and details can be found on the Incheon Library website.

Sources: https://news.ifm.kr