Incheon to operate year-round social economy consultation center

Incheon’s 2026 Social Economy Counseling Center will be in operation year-round. The center aims to support the sustainable growth and self-reliance of local social economy enterprises. Incheon Metropolitan City has come up with the initiative to provide practical solutions for businesses facing management challenges, and to help aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to enter the sector. Services include basic consultations on certification procedures and in-depth advisory support through connections with experts. The city also plans to link the program with follow-up initiatives such as funding support and ESG management briefings to enhance policy effectiveness.

Incheon promotes educational tourism as a learning-focused city

Incheon Metropolitan City will actively promote educational tourism in partnership with the Incheon Tourism Organization. In response to growing demand for experiential learning, the city plans to expand specialized programs that allow students to learn through hands-on experiences unique to Incheon. A public-private consultative body will be formed to support this effort, with an official launch ceremony scheduled for April 1. The initiative will also enable school officials to visit Incheon in advance to review facilities and programs, helping them better plan educational trips.

Incheon City Museum launches program featuring citizens’ stories

The Incheon Metropolitan City Museum will launch the “My Treasure” program on April 1, collecting meaningful personal items and stories from citizens and sharing them on social media. The program aims to document the joys and sorrows of Incheon residents through objects that hold special memories in their lives. Participants can submit a photo of a meaningful item representing a moment in their life along with a one-page written story via a QR code provided on the museum’s website poster.

GTX-B headquarters to be built in Songdo, overseeing rail operations

Incheon Metropolitan City announced that the headquarters for the GTX-B metropolitan express rail line will be built near Incheon National University Station in Songdo International City. The headquarters will serve as a key operational facility, equipped with an integrated control center, situation room, and office spaces to oversee train operations. The facility will be constructed by a private developer, donated to the government upon completion, then outsourced for 40 years. The city has actively pursued the project since August 2024, proposing candidate sites to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport before finalizing the location through recent consultations.

Incheon to add 7 new bus routes and adjust 15 others

Incheon Metropolitan City will introduce seven new bus routes and adjust 15 existing ones following a 2026 review, with changes to be implemented sequentially starting in late April.The move reflects evolving transportation conditions, including increased demand from administrative restructuring and large-scale housing developments. New routes will undergo administrative procedures such as public tender and proposal evaluations starting in April, with operations expected to begin around September. The changes are expected to improve mobility convenience for citizens, reduce regional transportation gaps, and achieve a balanced expansion of public transportation services throughout the city. 

Incheon to subsidize employment insurance premiums for solo business owners

Incheon Metropolitan City will launch a subsidy program for employment insurance premiums. The program is for one-person business owners and aims to ease their financial burdens and strengthen the social safety net. Applications will open on April 1, with support applied retroactively from premiums paid starting January 2026. Participants will receive 50–80% of their premiums based on the standard rating set by the Small Enterprise and Market Service, with the city providing an additional 10% subsidy for up to three years. The program is expected to significantly reduce the actual insurance burden of small business owners and encourage broader participation in the social safety system.

Sources: https://news.ifm.kr