- Rediscovering the history and culture of Incheon's port openingthrough dumpling-making food experience -- Plans to develop Incheon's Open Port Area into a global attractionthrough various programs -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) received a great response by holding the Open Port Food Experience program for foreigners residing in Incheon at the Incheon Art Platform on Nov. 16, 2024.This event was planned as part of the 1883 Gaehang Salon's citizen participation program and was held to introduce the history and culture of Incheon's port opening to participants through food experiences.In particular, this event, conducted in collaboration with the Incheon Support Center for Foreign Residents, was attended by about 20 foreigners of various nationalities, including Chinese, Russian, and Burmese. They had time to make and taste dumplings, a representative food of Incheon's Open Port Area, enhancing their understanding of Korean culture and Incheon's port opening. Additionally, foreign participants had the opportunity to experience the charms of Korean food, which is driving the popularity of Korean culture, and to feel the diverse cultural heritage of the Open Port Area.Dumplings have been a light meal enjoyed among dock workers since the opening of Jemulpo Port in 1883, continuing its fame with Chinese-style meat dumplings in Chinatown and North Korean-style dumplings in Sinpo-dong. Recently, it has been gaining more attention as a popular Korean food both domestically and internationally through cooking competition programs on online streaming services.Director-General Kim Jun-seong of Incheon's Global City Bureau said, "Incheon's Open Port Area is a place rich in historical value with various local content, and we hope that through this program, the Open Port Area can establish itself as a cultural landmark of Incheon for foreigners as well." He added, "Incheon will continue to develop the port opening area into a global attraction through various pr

- Promoting a kimchi-making experience event for3,200 children at 26 kindergartens -- Incheon City aims to convey the importance of traditional foods to children through kimchi-making experience -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced that it will conduct a “Kimchi-Making Experience” event over three weeks from Nov. 4 to Nov. 22, visiting 26 local kindergartens and engaging approximately 3,200 children.This event is sponsored by Incheon City and organized by the Incheon Kimchi Pickling Cooperative Association. It aims to educate children and their families about the excellence of kimchi, providing hands-on activities such as mixing and tasting kimchi to highlight the importance of traditional foods and promote the preservation and value of kimchi culture.Kindergartens participating in the event were recruited through applications from Oct. 28 to Nov 1, and selected kindergartens will be provided with 2 kg of salted cabbage and seasoning per child, free of charge. Only domestic cabbage and seasoning ingredients are used in this event, and the kimchi made by the children will be distributed to the kindergartens.Incheon City announced that four out of fifteen companies belonging to the Incheon Kimchi Pickling Cooperative Association will participate in this event, including Nongga Food, Sungwon Food, Uri Kimchi, and Jeongwoo Food.Amid recent agricultural supply instability due to climate change, particularly with the summer heatwaves impacting cabbage supply and causing a severe blow to the kimchi manufacturing industry, this experience event is anticipated to support the resilience of local businesses.In addition, the Incheon Kimchi Pickling Cooperative Association launched the integrated brand, Soseongchae, in Aug. 2023 to overcome the difficulties in the kimchi manufacturing industry, and plans to produce and introduce this brand product to consumers next year.Kim Jung-hoe, Director of the Agriculture and Livestock Division, stated, "I hope th

- "2024 Band Day" on Nov. 16 at Dong-gu Culture and Sports Center, in collaboration with Incheon Culture and Arts Center-A concert is being held to celebrate the hardworking youth of this era. It is none other than The 2024 Band Day: Record of Youth, being held at Dong-gu Culture and Sports Center on Nov. 16.Introduced since 2013, Incheon Culture and Arts Center's Band Day has offered special opportunities to experience the music of talented bands up close in an intimate setting. It's a time to enjoy the bands showcasing their distinctive and musical visions, transcending generations and genres with outstanding sound and lighting.Due to the remodeling construction of Incheon Culture and Arts Center's performance hall this year, it is presented in collaboration with Dong-gu Culture and Sports Center. It is part of a collaborative performance initiative aimed at showcasing Incheon Culture and Arts Center's major brand performances to local residents by leveraging the planned expertise and promotional networks of each institution.2024 Band Day speaks to those striving for the most beautiful and green moments in life, honoring the meaning of youth (靑春). Three bands—Dragon Pony, ADOY, and Peppertones—gather in one place to record the precious day in history.Dragon Pony, named by members born in the year of the dragon and horse, transcends diverse genres with all four members of different musical colors participating in composition and production. On this stage, they show their unending passion for music and deliver an unforgettable experience.ADOY, beloved for their polished sound and youth-centered themes, has quickly established itself as the top choice for concerts, earning both domestic and international acclaim from music professionals and fans. This event highlights their live performances, now reaching audiences worldwide beyond Korea.Peppertones, known for their intense and refreshing sound, plans to tell stories of youth in their distinctive style. Deliv

- 3,510 visitors, 88 companies, 230 booths in carbon neutrality and renewable energy -- Export contracts worth KRW 33.7 billion, generating a regional economic impact of KRW 2.9 billion during the exhibition period -The 2024 GreenEnerTEC event, held for three days from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at Songdo Convensia in Incheon, successfully concluded with a total of 3,510 visitors.Now in its third year, 2024 GreenEnerTEC featured 88 companies across six main areas including carbon neutrality, renewable energy, water resources, climate change and air quality, circular economy, and eco-friendly plastics. Thirty-five overseas buyers from 20 countries were invited.During the exhibition period, a total of 163 export consultations valued at KRW 306.8 billion were conducted, resulting in 4 export contracts worth KRW 33.7 billion.Additionally, the event had a significant impact on Incheon's local economy through various side events and programs. 13 conferences, including the International Eco-friendly Plastic Conference, along with technical seminars, briefings, export consultations, and public procurement consultations were held, generating about KRW 2.9 billion in regional economic ripple effects.An eco-friendly promotion booth at the exhibition hosted tumbler recycling and carbon neutrality campaigns, while 70 participants joined an industrial tour of Incheon Environmental Corporation's Resource Circulation Center to learn about the importance of resource circulation. Additionally, 250 people participated in the Green Partner second-half joint de-icing agent sharing activity, strengthening community efforts for creating a sustainable environment.Kim Chung-jin, Director of Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, stated, "This exhibition achieved meaningful results in strengthening global business networks and revitalizing the local economy," and added, "It was significant as it provided a platform for international exchange and cooperation, including export consultation meetings with i

- Actively supporting work-life balance with customized childcare services for elementary school children -- Meeting childcare needs in population declining areas by operating community-based "All Together Care Centers" -Incheon Metropolitan City (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) is implementing customized gap care support projects to address childcare gaps for elementary school children.Incheon City plans to provide night and weekend care, as well as care for sick children, to ensure continuous care for elementary school children. The city also plans to operate community-based "All Together Care Centers" in its older districts.Opening of "All Together Care Centers"Starting in the second half of this year, Incheon will create rest areas at eight designated All Together Care Centers for sick children and introduce a new bed care service for those who are unwell. In 2025, six additional centers will be established to expand the benefits to reach more children.From next year, All Together Childcare Centers will provide evening and weekend care with evening services at 9 PM. Incheon plans to expand the program to 10 centers by 2026, beginning with pilot operations at two locations in 2025. Additional funding will be provided to facilities operating extended care to create a stable care environment. The extended sick child care services aim to provide safe care for children in urgent need and actively support guardians in achieving a work-life balance.This year, Incheon City, in collaboration with Seo-gu, is establishing its first community-based All Together Childcare Center in Seoknam-dong. This center will address the childcare needs of the older districts with declining population, and provide flexible services, including evening, weekend, and sick child care, along with vehicle support.Si Hyun-jeong, Director of Women and Family Affairs, stated, "We plan to build a comprehensive gap care network, ensuring no care gaps even in urgent or unexpected situations," and added, "Incheo

- The city that brings the yearning for revisits: Incheon takes a global leap forward as a city welcoming overseas Koreans -- “Incheon, Open the World, Link the People” -On Oct. 18, Incheon Metropolitan City announced that a proclamation ceremony was held at Gyeongwonjae Ambassador Hotel, Songdo, to declare the “2025–2026: Year of Overseas Koreans’ Exchange and Visit” initiative (hereinafter “Year of Exchange and Visit).With the vision of becoming a “city that brings the yearning for revisits,” the ceremony aimed to present a blueprint for expanding exchanges and engagement with the seven million overseas Koreans worldwide.More than 150 participants attended the event, including Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Kim Dae-jung, Chair of the Incheon City Council’s Construction and Transportation Committee, overseas Korean entrepreneurs and institution officials, such as Kim Deok-ryong, Chairman of the World Federation of Korean Association of Commerce, and representatives from Korea Tourism Organization, Incheon Tourism Organization, and Incheon MICE Alliance member companies.The ceremony featured various programs, such as a congratulatory video from Yoo In-chon, the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, a celebratory performance by the “Show Design Group” in hopes of a successful event, and a screening of a video specially crafted for the event.The “Year of Exchange and Visit” initiative will run from 2025 to 2026, aiming to encourage overseas Koreans to visit Incheon and foster networks among them. The slogan “Incheon, Open the World, Link the People” was selected through a public contest in August.From next year, Incheon will implement various projects to further facilitate overseas Koreans’ visits, including specialized programs, an “Overseas Korean Visitors Week,” a welcome booth, and a welcome concert.The ceremony highlight was the signing of an MOU between Incheon Metropolitan City, the Incheon MICE Alliance, and three intern

- Incheon Metropolitan Government to do everything to prevent the fire from spreading and review support measures for affected businesses -On Oct. 20, Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok visited the scene of a factory fire in Wanggil-dong, Seo-gu, to assess the damage and demand swift recovery measures. Relevant officials, such as the head of the Seo-gu Office and the local fire department, also attended the site.The fire broke out around 8:44 AM at a machine-processing factory in Wanggil-dong, Seo-gu. Fire authorities issued a level 1 response at 9:14 AM. and escalated it to level 2 at 11:02 AM, which was later downgraded to level 1 at 1:58 PM.There were no casualties, and over 60 pieces of equipment, including helicopters, were mobilized to extinguish the flames.After being briefed by the head of Incheon Geomdan Fire Station on the cause and measures taken to extinguish the fire, Mayor Yoo personally inspected the scene, expressing his gratitude to the firefighters working on the site.He went on to request efforts to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby factories and mountains, urging the team to maintain the disaster prevention and response system to ensure quick action in case of future incidents.A fire department official explained, “The fire occurred in a sandwich panel and tented structure, which made it time-consuming to control.”The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the relevant authorities, and the final damage estimates will be confirmed after further investigation.Mayor Yoo also added, “Please ensure that the flames are fully contained, considering the strong winds, and once the damage assessment is complete, we will actively consider support measures for the affected businesses.” Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok is inspecting the damage at the scene of the factory fire in Wanggil-dong, Seo-gu, on Oct. 20. 

- Promotional booth officially open at the 2024 Global Korean Association President Conference to expand the network of global Koreans overseas -Incheon Metropolitan City announced its participation in the 2024 Global Korean Association President Conference and the 18th Global Korean Day Celebration (hereinafter referred to as the Conference). The Conference was held at Lotte Hotel World in Jamsil, Seoul, on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, officially opening the booth for the 2025–2026: Year of Overseas Koreans’ Exchange and Visit.Through this promotional booth, the metropolitan government plans to promote the Year of Overseas Koreans’ Exchange and Visits to Incheon campaign, which will be held for two years from 2025 to 2026. The goal is to encourage overseas Koreans to visit Incheon and strengthen their network.The campaign will introduce various programs to the booth visitors, including welcome booths, distribution of Overseas Korean Incheon Tour Cards, social network service events, and the celebration of Overseas Koreans Visiting Week, which is planned to take place next year.The Conference is an annual event hosted by the Overseas Koreans Agency to bring together Korean community leaders worldwide. It aims to foster interaction between the overseas Korean community and their homeland, establishing a foundation for networking and strengthening ties between overseas Koreans and their home nation.Yun Hyeon-mo, head of Incheon’s Global Business Cooperation Bureau, stated, “We hope that this event will serve as an opportunity to introduce Incheon to Koreans living overseas who are visiting their homeland, and promote Incheon as a city that embraces everyone.”Meanwhile, Incheon will hold a proclamation ceremony at Gyeongwonjae on Oct. 18 to declare the start of the 2025–2026: Year of Overseas Koreans’ Exchange and Visit to Incheon, marking the beginning of flourishing exchange and communication with overseas Koreans.

- Fall nights of October celebrate various events, including the Night Picnic Concert and Night MarketIncheon Metropolitan City and the Incheon Tourism Organization have announced to host nighttime cultural events, including the Night Picnic Concert and Wolmi-Open Port Night Market, to revitalize night tourism in downtown Incheon.As Incheon enters the third year of its night tourism specialization project, the city expands its focus from Songdo to include Wolmido and the Open Port area. Incheon’s strategy is to discover self-sustaining programs centered around the old downtown area, establishing a foundation for sustainable night tourism and distinguishing Incheon as a unique nighttime tourist attraction, distinct from other regions.One of the key events that began on Sunday, Sep. 15 is the Bar Hopping Tour. Participants can visit a selection of unique bars around the Open Port and Sinpo-dong areas, enjoying a fun experience and touring around the city.The tour offers a special discount that allows visitors to enjoy a menu normally priced at KRW 13,000, for just KRW 3,000 at each bar. This discount is available to anyone with an Incheoneasy account, Incheon’s mobile travel application.The Incheon Night Picnic Concert will be held for a total of three days from Thursday, Oct. 3, to Saturday, Oct. 12 from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Open Port Square of Incheon Sangsang Platform 1883.On Thursday, Oct. 3, outdoor movie screenings and cinema discussions will take place. Followed by on Friday, Oct. 11 is a jazz concert featuring a jazz brass band, romantic a cappella performances, and swing jazz performances. On Sunday, Oct. 12, the picnic concert will introduce fusion gugak, pop opera, and Korean pop song performances. Each evening from 5 PM to 8 PM, the event will also include special treats like popcorn, nighttime tourism experiences, and flea markets throughout the three days, offering visitors a unique night experience in the fall season.The Incheon Wolmi-Open Port Night

- A public festival created by youths -- Various programs from Sep. 21 to 28 -Incheon announced that during “Incheon Youth Week 2024,” which runs from Sep. 21–28, a festival under the theme “Youths, The Pioneers of Incheon” will be held, creating a space of celebration for both young people and all citizens of Incheon.Youth Week is a statutory holiday designated on the third Saturday of September each year following the enactment of the Youth Framework Act (Aug. 2020), kicking off with Youth Day.Incheon will launch various events and festivities, starting with the 5th Incheon Youth Day celebration on Sep. 21 at Songdo Central Park.The first part of the event featured the “Yogi Jogi Concert” with performances by local youth artists, as well as a passionate cheering performance by SSG Landers cheerleader Bae Soo-hyun, who is also Incheon’s city ambassador. In the second part, there were recognitions for outstanding contributions to youth activities, followed by a performance that celebrated the hopes and dreams of young people. The third part showcased touching celebratory performances by singers Lee Jong-min, Jung Soo-min, and Ben.To conclude, an outdoor screening of classic films was held against the backdrop of a refreshing fall evening, creating cherished memories for families and friends to enjoy their precious time together.As a side event, twenty teams of local youth entrepreneurs will showcase a variety of creative products and services at a flea market, including crafts, fashion, and ceramics. Moreover, various campaigns and activities will be featured at the Youth Policy PR Booth, organized in collaboration with relevant agencies within Incheon. Key programs include: the "Green Planet" campaign, focused on environmental awareness; the "Youth Mental Health" campaign, supporting mental health and stress checkups; the photo booth event hosted at the UU Youth Space; information and registration for the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s nationa