The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has shifted the operation criteria of the Response Fund for Local Extinction to a 'people-centric' approach starting this year, prompting calls within the Incheon City Council for a more systematic overhaul of strategies to address areas experiencing population decline.

Shin Young-hee, a member of the Incheon City Council's Administrative Safety Committee (People Power Party, Ongjin County), stated during the 5-minute free speech at the first plenary meeting of the 306th Incheon City Council temporary session on the 27th, "The Response Fund for Local Extinction is no longer evaluated based on whether facilities are created, but rather on how convincingly the structure leading to population influx, retention, and settlement is designed."

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, this year's Response Fund for Local Extinction will be distributed differentially, applying excellent, S, A, and B grades to 89 areas experiencing population decline. The excellent grade will receive 12 billion won, S grade 8.8 billion won, A grade 8 billion won, and B grade 7.2 billion won. The criteria for performance evaluation will be based on how well the potential for population change is demonstrated, rather than a simple listing of projects.

Shin pointed out that Incheon's areas experiencing population decline are in competition on a national level within this evaluation system. He explained, "While Ganghwa County received a relatively positive evaluation with plans reflecting the concepts of residential population and retention, Ongjin County, due to its structural characteristics as an island region and low financial independence, has no choice but to prioritize securing basic living infrastructure such as housing, transportation, and healthcare."

Population indicators also reflect this gap. As of the end of last year, Incheon's registered population exceeded 3.05 million, an increase of over 30,000 compared to the previous year, marking the highest growth rate among metropolitan governments nationwide. In contrast, Ongjin County's population stands at around 19,000, a decrease of approximately 1.8% from the previous year, continuing a three-year decline.

Shin noted, "While the overall population of Incheon is increasing, it is difficult to see that this growth trend is spreading to the island regions," and pointed out that "areas experiencing structural population decline cannot be addressed solely through responses at the basic local government level."

He further illustrated the gap between policy and practice by citing the rural and fishing village scholarship support ordinance he established. Shin stated, "While the system is in place, the lack of adequate living conditions and spaces for families to stay has prevented actual population influx," and emphasized that "people-centric policies can only be effective when housing, education, healthcare, and jobs are designed together."

In response, Shin proposed strengthening the role of Incheon City as a solution. He stated, "Currently, the Response Fund for Local Extinction has a structure where counties and districts establish plans, and Incheon City compiles them. To respond to an evaluation system that demands people-centric outcomes, Incheon City must shift to a model where it designs strategies in collaboration with areas experiencing population decline from the planning stage."

Specifically, he suggested: ▲ strengthening the dedicated task force (TF) function for the Response Fund for Local Extinction ▲ developing customised settlement models reflecting the characteristics of island regions ▲ establishing a mid- to long-term roadmap for population influx.

Shin concluded, "The Response Fund for Local Extinction is not a short-term budget execution tool but a policy instrument for designing the future of the region," and stated, "Ongjin County should be recognised not as a periphery of Incheon but as a crucial part of Incheon's population strategy, and Incheon City should take a more proactive role."

The Incheon Sports Research Centre will launch in the first half of this year as an affiliated institution of the Incheon Research Institute. The Incheon City Council plans to eventually transition the centre into an independent foundation, nurturing it as a professional research institution overseeing Incheon’s sports policies.

The Incheon City Council’s member research group, ‘Incheon Sports Research Centre Establishment Study Group (Representative Member Park Pan-soon)’, held its first seminar on the 21st at the Cultural Welfare Committee seminar room to discuss the purpose and operational direction of the centre's establishment.

Attending the seminar were Representative Park Pan-soon (People Power Party, Proportional), Lee Sun-ok (People Power Party, Namdong 2), Lim Kwan-man (People Power Party, Jung-gu 1), Shin Chung-sik (Independent, Seo-gu 4), Park Chang-ho (People Power Party, Proportional), as well as officials from Incheon City, the Incheon Sports Council, and experts in the sports field.

In his presentation, Representative Park Pan-soon stated, “The Incheon Sports Research Centre will systematically inherit and develop the legacy of the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, and will be responsible for research and development, policy support, and presenting a mid- to long-term vision for the promotion of sports in Incheon.”

Representative Park has emphasised the need for a dedicated organisation for the Asian Games legacy project, and has been laying the institutional groundwork for the centre's establishment through city council questions, administrative audits, related ordinance amendments, and budget securing since 2023.

On this day, Representative Park also presented a phased operational roadmap. He stated, “This year, we will launch as an affiliated centre of the Incheon Research Institute, but next year we will strengthen independence through entrustment to a private professional institution, and after 2028, we must transition into a foundation to perform its original functions.”

Professor Lim Sae-mi from Incheon University’s Department of Sports Science, who participated as a discussant, pointed out, “Given the many difficulties faced until the establishment of the centre, continuous efforts from related departments will be crucial after its launch,” and added, “Entrustment operation is inevitable to secure expertise.”

An official from the Incheon Sports Council suggested, “The budget scale is insufficient compared to the centre's role,” and stated, “A collaborative structure that considers Incheon’s sports issues together is necessary.”

Park Hyuk, Director of the Incheon City Culture and Sports Bureau, stated, “We will do our utmost to provide administrative support so that the centre can launch without any issues in the first half of this year.”

The director of ‘Saekdongwon’, a residential facility for severely disabled individuals in Ganghwa, Incheon, has been arrested before being brought to trial on charges of sexually abusing and assaulting residents.

On the 19th, Chief Judge Nam Se-jin of the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for Mr. Kim, the director, who is facing charges of rape and sexual assault against disabled individuals under the Sexual Violence Punishment Act and violations of the Welfare of Disabled Persons Act. Judge Nam stated, “There is a concern that evidence may be destroyed or that he may flee,” as the reason for issuing the warrant. However, the warrant for staff member A, who was also charged, was dismissed due to a lower necessity for arrest.

Director Kim is accused of forcing female disabled residents to engage in sexual intercourse or similar acts under the pretext of life guidance. So far, the investigation has identified at least 6 specific victims.

The police investigation began in May last year as an inquiry and led to a search of the facility in September of the same year. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency established the ‘Special Investigation Team for the Saekdongwon Case’ last month and is expanding the investigation by conducting a comprehensive survey of all 87 disabled individuals who passed through the facility and 152 staff members.

In a prior in-depth investigation conducted by Ganghwa, it was reported that a total of 19 individuals, including current and former residents, stated that they had suffered sexual abuse. It is said that the police submitted key evidence supporting the criminal facts, including the obstetric and gynaecological medical records of those identified as victims, to the court during the warrant review.

After the hearing that afternoon, Mr. Kim remained silent when asked by reporters, “Do you admit to the charges?” and “Do you have anything to say to the victims?” as he got into the transport vehicle.

With Mr. Kim’s custody secured, the police plan to interrogate him about the specific circumstances of the crimes and focus on investigating any additional victimization that may emerge during the comprehensive survey process.

The Incheon City Council has established a system to support firefighters who have dedicated themselves on the front lines of disaster scenes to take care of their health even after retirement, and to substantively guarantee the right to rest for current public officials.

On the 3rd, the Incheon City Council's Administrative Safety Committee passed the 'Incheon Metropolitan City Ordinance on Supporting Special Health Checks for Retired Firefighters' and the 'Partial Amendment to the Incheon Metropolitan City Public Officials Service Ordinance', both proposed by Member Yoo Seung-bun (People Power Party, Yeonsu 3).

Nationwide, firefighters are constantly exposed to physical and mental risks such as exposure to harmful substances and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the nature of their duties. However, after retirement, the special health check benefits enjoyed during their active service have been cut off, making it difficult to detect and manage occupational diseases.

The newly established ordinance stipulates that firefighters who have served for more than 10 years and retired can receive support for special health checks within 10 years after retirement. Member Yoo emphasized, “It is the minimum responsibility of society to fill the health gap for those who have dedicated themselves for a long time in dangerous fields.”

The service ordinance amendment passed on the same day focused on strengthening the practical 'right to rest' for public officials. Key contents include allowing the 'long-term service leave' that was previously lost due to excessive workloads to be carried over to the next period of service. Additionally, a 'birthday leave' system was established, allowing one day of leave to be taken in the month of one's birthday for the morale and recharging of the public service.

Member Yoo cautioned against perceptions of special privileges, stating, “This amendment is an essential improvement for creating a sustainable public service,” and explained, “When the work-life balance of public officials is achieved, the quality of administrative services provided to citizens can also be enhanced.”

Criticism has been raised that the key development projects in Seo-gu, Incheon, are being filled mainly with residential facilities such as office-tels, contrary to their original purpose. Although the Seo-gu Office has proclaimed the ‘strengthening of institutional consultation rights’, there are no concrete implementation plans, leading to accusations of ‘performative administration’.

Kim Won-jin, Chair of the Planning and Administrative Committee of the Incheon Seo-gu Council (Democratic Party, Cheongna 1-2-dong), targeted the issues of the Cheongna International City and Geomam station area development projects during the major work report of the Policy Planning Department at the 278th extraordinary session held on the 3rd.

Chairman Kim pointed out the current status of the Cheongna International City development and criticized the administration's complacent response. He stated, “Looking at the report on the international financial district project, all we see since 2019 until 2026 is news of office-tel construction,” and criticized, “The name ‘international financial district’ is meaningless as commercial and financial facilities are sidelined, and in reality, only residential facilities are being established.”

He continued, “There is a great concern that the international business district in the Nagu area will also flow towards mixed-use or office-tel developments like the previous Gagu area,” emphasizing, “The initial purpose of the project has disappeared, and the current situation where it only serves as a residential facility is a very serious problem.”

There was also sharp scrutiny regarding the ‘strengthening of consultation rights for balanced development projects’ announced by the Seo-gu Office in the work report. Chairman Kim pointed out, “It is inappropriate for the responsible department to respond that it is unfortunate that opinions submitted to Incheon City or the Economic Bureau are not accepted,” and noted, “There is a lack of a concrete work plan on how to strengthen consultation rights.”

He particularly stressed, “To soothe the disappointment of residents due to changes in the Incheon subway line 3, strengthening communication channels is essential,” and demanded, “Regularize meetings involving residents, the Seo-gu Office, and developers when promoting specific development projects, and work together with the council to exert substantial influence.”

Chairman Kim encouraged proactive administration by mentioning past cases where the district actively voiced its opinions during the naming process of the Third Incheon Bridge. He stated, “For large-scale development projects, which are also part of the mayor's pledges, to proceed as originally planned or in the direction desired by residents, more thorough reviews are needed,” and urged, “Let’s communicate again with the Seo-gu Office regarding the sluggish issues such as the Geomam station area development.”

In response, a district official said, “We will reflect the concerns raised by the council members, enhance our consultation capabilities with related agencies, and prepare specific measures to ensure that residents' opinions are actively reflected.”

The legal basis for the establishment of the Incheon Maritime Specialized Court has been secured. The long-stalled project to attract the maritime court, which has been drifting for nearly ten years since the 20th National Assembly, has been evaluated as having crossed a significant milestone with the passage of the bill through the National Assembly's standing committee subcommittee.

The Incheon Metropolitan City announced that the amendments to the 'Court Organization Act' and the 'Law on the Establishment and Jurisdiction of Courts' aimed at establishing the Incheon Maritime Specialized Court passed the first subcommittee of the National Assembly's Legislative and Judiciary Committee on the 3rd.

The establishment of the Maritime Specialized Court has been a long-standing wish of the shipping and port industries, but it has repeatedly failed due to the expiration of the National Assembly's term. However, in the current 22nd National Assembly, local representatives such as Yoon Sang-hyun, Jeong Il-young, Park Chan-dae, and Bae Jun-young have successively proposed the bill, gaining momentum with a total of 32 members of parliament from both parties participating in the joint proposal.

In particular, during the review process last July, both parties agreed to expand jurisdiction not only over maritime cases but also over international commercial disputes, deciding to establish the main offices of the 'Maritime International Commercial Courts' in both Incheon and Busan, thus breaking the deadlock. It is also reported that the previously contentious issue of exclusive jurisdiction has been reconciled between the Court Administration Office and the Ministry of Justice.

This achievement has been supported by the persistent efforts of the Incheon community. The Incheon City has been visiting the National Assembly regularly with the 'Citizens' Movement Headquarters for Attracting the Maritime Specialized Court', composed of the Incheon Bar Association and the port industry, persuading them of the necessity. The enthusiasm for attracting the court, united by a citizens' signature campaign involving one million citizens and relay support declarations, is said to have moved the National Assembly.

Incheon is considered the optimal location for rapid response to maritime disputes with neighbouring countries such as China, thanks to its world-class airport and port. Once the court is established, it is expected to bring economic benefits by reducing the annual legal service costs that have been flowing overseas, amounting to hundreds of billions of won.

Yoon Jeong-bok, the Mayor of Incheon, stated, "This result was made possible by the dedicated efforts of the 3 million citizens of Incheon, the Citizens' Movement Headquarters, and local members of parliament," and emphasized, "We will ensure that the remaining procedures, including the passage of the full committee and the National Assembly plenary session, are completed without wavering, to grow Incheon into a global legal hub city."

Incheon Metropolitan City is establishing a ‘Food Industry Division’ within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to enhance the overall competitiveness of the local agricultural and food industry. The aim is to proactively respond to the rapidly changing agricultural and food environment and the changing food demands of citizens, establishing a virtuous cycle structure that connects production to export.

Incheon City announced that it will triple the establishment of eco-friendly agricultural infrastructure projects by 2026 compared to the previous year. The plan is to systematically support the entire process of production, processing, storage, and distribution centred around eco-friendly concentrated areas, aiming for both the scaling and stability of agriculture. Through this, the city plans to induce carbon reduction in agricultural fields and promote the actual stability of farm incomes.

The city is also accelerating its entry into overseas markets. It has designated 2026 as the ‘Year of Diversification of Agricultural and Food Exports’ and plans to expand the overseas consumer touchpoints of representative local agricultural products such as Ganghwa Island rice, using three permanent sales locations in the Toronto area of Canada as bases. In particular, it plans to cultivate ‘export-leading organisations’ that support quality control systems and logistics efficiency to increase the export proportion of high-value-added products.

To secure stable sales channels for local specialty products, both online and offline strategies will be implemented. In the second half of this year, a large-scale sales event called ‘Incheon Market’ will be held at the Song Sang Platform in Jung-gu to enhance citizen accessibility, and an ‘Incheon Premium Agricultural Specialty Product Planning Exhibition’ linked with large online platforms will target the non-face-to-face consumption market.

Additionally, by collaborating with local governments in the metropolitan area such as Mapo-gu, Seocho-gu, and Yangcheon-gu, the city will increase participation in direct trading markets while also strengthening support for the development of traditional liquors and processed foods using local agricultural products.

Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok of Incheon City stated, “The food industry policy for 2026 focuses on creating a virtuous cycle system that connects production, consumption, and export,” and added, “We will do our best to provide safe and reliable food to citizens and enhance the global competitiveness of local agriculture.”

Incheon Michuhol District's introduction of smart traffic lights for children's safety has led to a surge of complaints from parents of elementary schools excluded from the installation, as the lights are being installed primarily at specific schools. Additionally, criticism has been raised regarding the district office's 'rubber band administration' after a bus shelter, previously deemed impossible to install due to administrative procedures, was suddenly erected following a specific complaint.

On the 29th, Kim Tae-gye, Chair of the Welfare Construction Committee of Incheon Michuhol Council (People Power Party, Sungui 1-4, Yonghyeon 1-4, Hakik 2-dong), focused on the issues of equity in the management of child protection zone (school zone) facilities and the credibility of administration during a departmental work report.

Chair Kim first pointed out the issue of the biased installation of smart traffic lights (ground-type traffic lights). He stated, “The smart traffic lights, which were initially promised to be installed primarily at elementary schools, are absent from the schools that actually need them, and there are cases where they have been installed in places that are not schools,” adding, “As a result, parents from areas where the lights have not been installed are suffering from intense protests asking, ‘What on earth is the district council member doing?’”

Chair Kim urged, “Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the installation status across all elementary schools and establish a uniform installation plan to ensure that no area is left out,” and emphasized, “Equitable administration that all residents in the 21 districts can accept is necessary.”

Criticism also followed regarding the poor post-management of safety facilities. Chair Kim remarked, “There are instances where some elderly individuals arbitrarily remove the no-crossing zones in the middle of the road,” and urged, “If this is left unattended and an accident occurs, the responsibility will become unclear, so thoroughly inspect the status of the no-crossing zones throughout the district.”

In particular, Chair Kim strongly criticized the district office's dual attitude revealed during the bus shelter installation process. He stated, “When resident complaints were conveyed, the response was that ‘installation is absolutely impossible due to legal reasons such as wheelchair access for the disabled,’ yet as soon as a specific individual lodged a complaint, the shelter was erected,” and called it “an act that disregards the legitimate legislative activities of the district council member and deceives resident communication.”

He continued, “Such biased decisions must not be repeated in the upcoming replacement and new installation projects for 10 old shelters,” and warned, “Thoroughly assess based on the field and proceed with the projects cautiously.”

A district official responded, “There were budgetary limitations such as matching funds, but we will review the equity of the pointed-out issues and strive to enhance facility inspections and communication.”

With the prompt advancement of the ‘Incheon Circular Line 3’, a long-cherished project of Incheon Seo-gu, voices have emerged urging Incheon City to provide full support for the serious financial deficit arising ahead of the separation of Seo-gu and Geomdan-gu.

Kim Nam-won, a member of the Incheon Seo-gu Council (Democratic Party, Cheongna 3, Dangha, Oryu-wang-gil, Majon-dong), focused on the expansion plan of the rail transport network and the financial soundness issues arising from the district separation during the major work report at the 278th extraordinary session held on the 3rd.

In the report on the ‘expansion of the comprehensive rail transport network’, Councillor Kim reviewed the current status of the Incheon Circular Line 3 project. He emphasised, “After the approval of the urban rail network construction plan in 2026, preliminary feasibility studies and other processes must proceed without delay,” adding, “The third circular line connecting Songdo, Cheongna, and Geomdan New Town is as important a route for connecting Incheon internally as the metropolitan rail network.”

In response, a district official stated, “With nine stations included in Seo-gu alone, transportation convenience will be dramatically improved,” and added, “If the construction plan is approved in the first half of this year, we will start construction after 2027 with the aim of completing it in the mid-2030s.”

During the subsequent inquiry from the Budget and Legal Affairs Department, Councillor Kim expressed strong concerns regarding the financial crisis situation in Seo-gu reported in the media recently. He questioned, “In a situation where even civil servant salaries cannot be fully allocated for a year due to austerity measures, we have to divide the large budget for the district separation. Currently, the essential expenses that Seo-gu has not secured amount to 123.3 billion won; what measures are in place?”

In particular, Councillor Kim reminded that the ‘administrative system reform (district separation)’ is one of the fundamental causes of this financial crisis and is a promise made by the Mayor of Incheon. He stated, “The district separation, which is being promoted as a mayoral promise, has put Seo-gu’s finances on the brink of collapse, and it is contradictory for Incheon City not to take responsibility,” and urged, “The district office must raise its voice more strongly to secure financial support at the metropolitan level.”

Furthermore, Councillor Kim pointed out that major development projects, such as the Cheongna International Financial District, are flowing towards a focus on officetels contrary to their original purpose, and he reprimanded that the Seo-gu Office’s ‘strengthening of consultation rights’ should not remain at a theoretical level. He added, “To ensure that the residents' wishes are reflected, communication channels with relevant agencies such as Incheon City and the Economic Agency must be continuously operated, and specific work plans should be established.”

A district official stated, “We are continuously requesting financial support from Incheon City and will do our best to ensure that residents' opinions are reflected in the development project consultation process.”

It has been revealed that the budget for sidewalk maintenance in Incheon Michuhol District is at a level that struggles to even handle complaints, raising concerns that aggressive budget acquisition for the safety of vulnerable pedestrians is urgent.

On the 29th, Yang Jeong-hee, a councillor from the People Power Party representing Ju-an 1-4, 7, and 8, pointed out the limitations of the sidewalk maintenance budget during the 293rd temporary session of the Welfare and Construction Committee and continued to ask pointed questions regarding key issues such as the maintenance of vacant houses in the Ju-an-dong area and park compensation.

Regarding the 500 million won allocated for the maintenance of pedestrian facilities this year, Councillor Yang expressed concern, saying, “It costs over 2 billion won for overall maintenance, so can 500 million won handle complaints?” When a district official responded, “The budget will be used primarily for handling complaints, and the shortfall will be secured through special grants,” Councillor Yang emphasized, “We need to accelerate the curb lowering project to ensure that wheelchair and stroller users do not face inconveniences, going beyond simple maintenance.”

In particular, Councillor Yang pointed out the sidewalks in the Ju-an 8-dong area after a site inspection, stating, “The height difference between private driveways and public sidewalks poses a significant risk of pedestrian accidents,” and urged, “Ensure that residents' opinions are fully reflected from the design stage and complete the leveling work promptly.”

Regarding park management, she called for “detailed administration” reflecting the characteristics of areas with a high elderly population. Councillor Yang mentioned the heated seats that seniors enjoy in winter, saying, “When it rains or snows, if the seats get wet, it causes significant inconvenience,” and suggested, “We need to implement measures such as installing roofs (pergolas) to prevent rain and snow from hitting, ensuring the mobility rights and convenience of the elderly.”

There was also a sharp inspection regarding the parking lot creation project in the area densely populated with vacant houses in Ju-an 4-dong. Councillor Yang questioned, “The land compensation procedure is scheduled for March, but isn’t there a high possibility that the project will be delayed due to the owners being unreachable?”

When the district office responded, “If we cannot contact them, we will use the deposit system to keep the project on track,” Councillor Yang strongly urged, “Since there may be complaints that the land compensation price is lower than the appraised value, manage the expropriation re-evaluation process closely to ensure that there are no delays in the completion schedule set for December 2026.”