INCHEON — A beaver mascot named Gongsam-i, whose name comes from Incheon's 032 area code, has won national recognition for its communication work on behalf of Incheon Metropolitan City Development Corporation (iH).
The corporation said on the 19th that Gongsam-i, a character it developed in-house, received the SNS Innovation Prize in the public institution category at the 2026 Korea Local Government and Public Character Festival, held at the Daejeon Convention Center.
The festival, organized by the Daejeon Tourism Organization and the Korea Culture Content Licensing Association, assessed 74 finalist characters from local governments and public agencies nationwide, judging them on how effectively they were used and on their promotional reach.
Gongsam-i, which debuted last year, combines Incheon's 032 area code with the habits of beavers, which build sturdy dams to create their homes. The corporation says the design offers an approachable way to convey its role in securing stable housing for residents.
The corporation has repackaged its development projects and housing policies — subjects that can read as dry — into short-form videos and card news featuring Gongsam-i on social media, drawing a response both online and offline. By presenting its work with a lighter touch, it has lowered the barrier to communicating with residents, including younger audiences.
"Gongsam-i, a character that captures what Incheon stands for, has had its merits recognized outside the organization," said Hwang Jin-hwan, head of the public relations team at iH. "We will continue to roll out tailored content that brings us a step closer to residents."