IFEZ Journal

IFEZ is a portal to the world and a hub of global innovation. It hosts leading organizations and companies across a wide variety of fields, from UN agencies and international organizations to domestic and multinational corporations, top global firms, Incheon Global Campus (IGC), and the Global Center. IFEZ brings you updates on the companies and organizations that are driving change and development.

01. Celltrion 

Launch of Autoimmune Disease Treatment Aptosma in U.S. Market

Celltrion has launched its autoimmune disease treatment, Aptosma (tocilizumab), in the United States, marking its efforts to secure an early market share. Aptosma, which is administered via intravenous (IV) injection, will be directly distributed by Celltrion’s local subsidiary, following the same approach applied in other recently launched products. As an interleukin (IL) inhibitor, Aptosma reduces inflammation by suppressing IL-6, a protein involved in triggering inflammation in the body. Upon its launch, Aptosma was listed as a preferred drug in the formulary operated by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) in Minnesota, achieving notable early success. Thomas Nusbickel, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Celltrion U.S., said, “We plan to accelerate Aptosma’s market adoption by leveraging our established networks and marketing expertise from direct sales of existing products.” He added, “We are committed to positioning Aptosma as a treatment that enhances medical access and improves the quality of life for more patients.”

02. Samsung Biologics 

Demonstrating Its Reputation in Japan’s Pharmaceutical Market and Aiming to Expand Its Customer Network

Samsung Biologics wrapped up Bio Japan 2025 in Yokohama with great success. This year, marking its third consecutive year of participation since 2023, the company established its first solo booth and showcased its new contract manufacturing organization (CMO) brand to accelerate order intake. Samsung Biologics’ booth attracted over 1,000 visitors throughout the event, garnering considerable interest. A Samsung Biologics official said, “At the booth, we highlighted our differentiated strengths to visitors, including our world’s largest production capacity of 784,000 liters and next-generation modality service capabilities.” He added, “We also had meetings with many Japanese pharmaceutical firms and top-40 global clients and prospects to explore collaboration opportunities.” Meanwhile, at the event, Samsung Biologics debuted its new CMO brand, “ExellenS.” ExellenS is a production system built on the core values of uniformity and speed, designed to provide customers with medicines of consistent quality. Leading with ExellenS, Samsung Biologics aims to establish an agile production system across all its facilities, ensuring quality consistency while simultaneously enabling rapid delivery of pharmaceuticals.

03. Kanavi Mobility

Signs MOU to Introduce Electric-Propulsion Boats at Lake Batur, Indonesia

A smart mobility specialist, Kanavi Mobility entered into an MOU with Bangli Regency in Bali, Indonesia; the state-owned company, BMB (BHUKTI MUKTI BHAKTI); and the project partner PT GMS Invest International to develop a tourism site at Lake Batur (Danau Batur). The MOU is part of a joint project to develop Lake Batur, a prominent natural resource in Bali, into a world-class eco-friendly tourism site, while promoting coexistence with the local community and ensuring sustainability.

Notably, the project aims to offer green transport and leisure infrastructure, including electric-propulsion boats, recreational facilities, electric tourist trains, and sky capsules, while introducing Korea’s advanced electronic system technologies and smart mobility operational know-how to the local context. Jeong Jong-taek, CEO of Kanavi Mobility, said, “Lake Batur is endowed with outstanding tourism potential. Through collaboration between Korea and Indonesia, we plan to introduce eco-friendly mobility and smart tourism infrastructure to elevate the region into a world-class site for tourism.”

04. KOPRI 

Polar Gallery, an Archive of Polar Photos and Videos

The Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI, led by Director Shin Hyung-chul) launched the Polar Gallery, a public archive through which anyone can access to its collection of photos and videos. The Polar Gallery was developed over two years by KOPRI to spread awareness of the significance of the polar regions and to provide open access to audiovisual data for educational, promotional, and research use. Currently, roughly 6,500 records are available, including unique scenes from the polar regions ranging from penguin and other wildlife footage to Antarctic station life and auroras. The gallery also provides entries from the annual Polar Photography Contest and will keep expanding its archive with additional materials. Another strength of the Polar Gallery is its user-friendly search system, which enables visitors to quickly locate materials by keyword, infrastructure, topic, or year. Users can freely access and utilize the original files for various purposes, including education, exhibitions, publications, media coverage, and academic research. KOPRI Director Shin Hyung-chul said, “It is deeply meaningful to share field records from the polar regions, which are normally beyond the public’s reach. We hope this archive will serve as a valuable resource for education, research, and raising social awareness.”

05. GCF

Delivers Invited Lecture on “The Severity of the Climate Crisis and How to Respond”

On September 23, Kim Song-joo, Project Development Officer at the Green Climate Fund (GCF), delivered a special lecture at the Incheon Unification Plus Center, at the invitation of the Incheon Metropolitan City. The lecture focused on the severity of the climate crisis and possible measures to tackle it. Founded in 2010 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the GCF is an international organization that supports developing countries in cutting greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change. The lecture, titled “Extreme Heat and Cold Waves in 2030: The Changes We Need to Start Now,” highlighted the need for global cooperation in tackling the growing climate challenges, such as rising global temperatures and frequent natural disasters—including typhoons, heavy rains, and droughts—caused by greenhouse gas emissions. She also offered clear and actionable advice on steps individuals can take in their daily routines to address the climate crisis.Yoo Jun-ho, Director of Policy Planning for Incheon City, who was present at the lecture, said, “I hope this lecture becomes a catalyst for Incheon citizens to shift their awareness of the climate crisis and actively engage in climate actions. We plan to keep providing programs at the Incheon Unification Plus Center to foster closer interaction and empathy with citizens.”

06. IFEZ Global Center

Hosts Chuseok Cooking Class for Foreign Residents, Featuring Traditional Tea Table Setting

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZA) hosted a “Chuseok Cooking Class” for foreign residents and workers at the IFEZ Global Center on September 23. This program aimed to introduce the meaning and background of Chuseok, one of Korea’s main traditional holidays, to foreigners and provide them with an opportunity to experience the warmth of the holiday by preparing traditional dishes themselves. Guided by the director of the Michuhol Traditional Food Culture Institute, participants made songpyeon and flower-shaped rice cakes (kkotsanbyeong). They also learned how to set up a traditional tea table with assorted refreshments. Jang Eun-mi, Head of the Investment Promotion Planning Division at the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, said, “This cooking class will provide foreign residents in IFEZ with a better understanding of Chuseok and Korean cultural traditions.” She added, “We will continue to operate diverse cultural experience programs to help them adapt smoothly to life in Korea and integrate well into the local community.” Meanwhile, IFEZ is currently offering Korean language classes for foreign residents in the latter half of 2025 and plans to hold various programs, including a Korean speaking contest in October and a kimchi-making experience in November

07. Incheon Metropolitan City

Incheon Landing Operation Commemoration in the Global City of Incheon Featured on the Front Page of The New York Times

The “Incheon Landing Operation Commemoration” held in the global city of Incheon was featured on the front page of The New York Times, a leading American newspaper. In summary, the article reports the following: “General Douglas MacArthur is always on the minds of the citizens of Incheon, South Korea. From a hill in Jayu Park, the bronze statue of the late American general looks out over the narrow waterway linking the city to the Yellow Sea.” The Incheon Landing Operation changed the tide of the Korean War and established MacArthur as a prominent figure in Korea. In Incheon, he represents more than a mere historical figure. The city itself embraces MacArthur and his operation as part of its identity, commemorating both of them through annual special events. On the commemorative day, South Korean and American Marines paraded through Incheon’s streets as crowds waved both nations’ flags and applauded. At the event, Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok of Incheon said, “Without the Incheon Landing Operation, the Korea we see today would not exist. It reminds us that maintaining strong alliances allows us to protect Korea’s freedom and support the broader free world,” emphasizing the importance of the solid alliance with the United States. In this way, the article published in The New York Times provided a detailed account of the “Incheon Landing Operation Commemoration” while subtly highlighting the significance of the South Korea–United States alliance.