Incheon Mayor Park seeks W155.9b in additional national funding, meets with Democratic Party leadership

Incheon, a major metropolitan city that has long complained of being doubly marginalized — subject to heavy regulations as part of the greater Seoul area while simultaneously excluded from regional development support programs — is moving to strengthen its ties with the Democratic Party to secure new growth engines.

The city formally called on the political establishment to expand national budget allocations and push for relevant legislative changes to support its "ABC+E" strategy for industrial transformation.

Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae convened the 2026 Democratic Party of Korea-Incheon Metropolitan City Budget Policy Council at city hall on Tuesday, with senior Democratic Party leadership in attendance.

Park met with Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok, floor leader Han Byung-do, Incheon chapter chairman Heo Jong-sik and local lawmakers to discuss solutions to the city's key pending issues.

Seeking W155.9b more on top of record 7 trillion won in national funding

Incheon had already secured a record 7.09 trillion won ($5.12 billion) in national budget allocations reflected in the government's 2027 budget proposal.

But the city said an additional 155.9 billion won is needed across 12 key national funding projects — covering items not yet included or requiring further increases — and asked the party to actively support their inclusion during the National Assembly's budget review process.

The proposed national funding projects include support for initial operations following Incheon's administrative restructuring, subsidies for the city's metropolitan express bus service and funding for "Incheon e-eum," the city's local currency program.

The city also urged smooth budget passage for measures to ease the fiscal burden on local governments nationwide — including support for the gap in childcare fees under the Nuri curriculum, labor inspector personnel costs and the operation of a local tax arrears management team — as well as funding for the construction of a comprehensive emergency training facility for the Gyeonggi-Incheon region.

Pushing hard to build AI and biotech hubs under 'ABC+E' strategy

At the council, Park presented the "ABC+E" (AI, biotech, content and energy) future growth strategy, linking it to the core campaign pledges of the ninth directly elected city administration and outlining a vision for new industries.

The plan calls for combining Incheon's geographic strengths — its airport, seaport and surrounding industrial complexes — with advanced technology to create a new growth engine for the greater Seoul metropolitan area.

Among seven key legislative tasks needed to support the strategy, the most pressing is the fast-track designation and swift National Assembly passage of a bill to establish the Incheon Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology.

Through the institute, the city aims to cement its position as a world-class biotech cluster, while also pursuing amendments to laws governing military facility relocations to advance urban redevelopment and improve residents' quality of life.

The city also put forward 12 major agenda items to boost global competitiveness, including hosting the 2028 G20 summit in Incheon, designating Songdo as a global AI hub and establishing a medical graduate school at Incheon National University.

"Incheon is actively pursuing the 'ABC+E' strategy — connecting AI, biotech, content and energy — built on the strengths of our airport and seaport," Park said. "Yet we are suffering from double marginalization: excluded from balanced regional development support because we are part of the greater Seoul area, while still subject to excessive regulation. We urgently need the National Assembly's practical support on both budgets and institutional reform."

Fiscal reform in parallel — 'breaking free from metropolitan regulations'

Park also signaled the city's own commitment to fiscal discipline. Incheon is pursuing sweeping fiscal reform measures, including the introduction of a total budget cap system, while seeking to work in close coordination with the central government and improve the efficiency of budget execution.

"As Incheon is already reforming its own fiscal health, I ask that you lend your support so that the city's long-sought projects can come to fruition without setback during the National Assembly's budget review," Park said.

The Democratic Party leadership expressed sympathy with Incheon's future growth potential and concerns over what the city described as reverse discrimination against metropolitan areas, pledging to explore a range of ways to ensure the city's proposed projects are actively reflected in the upcoming budget review and legislative process.