Young adults in their 20s and 30s are stepping to the forefront of Incheon's environmental policy. The Incheon Metropolitan Government has decided to enlist the power of the MZ generation to break down negative perceptions surrounding resource circulation centers.
The city will accept applications for the "2026 Resource Circulation Youth Supporters" from the 27th of this month through the 22nd of next month. Anyone aged 19 to 39 is eligible to apply. The program is open not only to Incheon residents but also to young people enrolled at universities within the city or working in the city.
Supporters who pass the document screening will be deployed in the field for six months in the second half of the year. They will create content in formats familiar to the younger generation, such as short-form videos, card news, and vlogs, and post them on their own social media and the city's official channels.
A notable feature is the expanded role. Supporters will tour incinerators and resource recovery facilities in person and then submit improvement ideas to the city. The city's vision is to treat young people as policy design partners rather than as public relations personnel. It is also an experiment in institutionalizing youth voices in the local environmental agenda.
Applications should be submitted by email using the form designated by the city. Successful applicants will be announced within June after a review process, and participants with outstanding performance will receive awards at the end of the year.
"We hope that youth-led activities will serve as a turning point in changing how people view resource circulation facilities," said Jeong Seung-hwan, head of Incheon's Environment Bureau.
