Advanced, unique Songdo perfect for G-20 summit
Songdo International City in the Incheon Free Economic Zone recently became one of the top candidates to host November 2010's G-20 summit, the most important international meeting ever held in Korea, amid fierce competition.
Since time is short, it is expected the event will use an existing convention center. The candidates are now Seoul, Buson, Jeju, Gyeongju, Incheon and others.
The IFEZ's goals can be summed up in three words: compact, smart and green. To be a "compact city" means to allow people to live close to where they work. As a "smart city," Songdo is equipped with cutting-edge information systems to improve business and daily life. And as a model green city, the entire Songdo international business complex has the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Neighborhood Development certification from the United States-based Green Building Council.
Songdo features facilities for business, high-tech industry, health care, education, culture, shopping, tourism and leisure all within a five-kilometer radius.
Work in the 151-floor Incheon Tower, to be completed in 2014, or the 68-floor Northeast Trade Tower to open in March; enjoy a walk in Songdo Central Park, the first Korean park to make use of actual ocean water, and send your children to the global campus, hosting foreign universities such as Stony Brook.
The most impressive part of Songdo is Tomorrow City, which uses fixed-line and mobile communications to offer ubiquitous Internet, improve traffic efficiency, prevent crime and disasters, manage buildings and protect the environment.
All of Songdo ellectrical and communications cables and water and drainage pipes are underground, meaning no power lines, along with an automatic garbage disposal system that will eliminate the need for trash collection.
Songdo's water recycling program is Korea's most advanced, while 250 kilometers of bike lanes and support for eco-friendly cars will ensure Songdo has the cleanest air of any Korean city.
Incheon Bridge, the fifth longest in the world at 21 kilometers, was unveiled Friday. World leaders attending the summit will be able to reach Songdo from Incheon International Airport within 10 minutes using the new bridge. Songdo Convensia, the hall where the summit might be held, has an innovative design modeled after the Taebaek mountain range, standing out from its cookie-cutter peers elsewhere.
Songdo Convensia has a capacity of 10,000 people on the first floor and nearby parking for over 5,000 cars. The city also offers top-class hotels.
IFEZ Commissioner Lee Heon-seok said, "If Songdo is chosen to host the G-20 summit, it would be able to accommodate 700,000 people with 512,000 locals in its 230 multistory buildings with up to 40 floors. Hosting the city will make Incheon a model city for the whole world."