Songdo Looks to Prosperous Future
Songdo looks to prosperous future
2010-09-28 18:12
Diplomats see Incheon Free Economic Zone as a development model
SONGDO, Incheon Today's Songdo City looks quiet, removed from the hustle and bustle from its neighbors of Seoul and Incheon, but that is just for the present.
The future of Songdo looks to be immensely important, as explained by officials at the Incheon Free Economic Zone. And it can be felt not only by the curiosity of ambassadors but also the high number of visits by delegates from foreign countries.
Much has been said about this city of the future. It hopes to become a global business hub, a sustainable city and one that will leave less of a carbon footprint than probably any city in the region.
Newly elected Mayor Song Young-gil is looking past the bulldozers and reclamation projects currently underway into a future where Songdo will become the Manhattan of the region with leading industries occupying the high-rises that will pepper the landscape of this new island.
During a trip organized by Herald Media the parent company to The Korea Herald and Incheon Metropolitan Government, details for the future of the future city were presented for heads of missions, chambers of commerce and local business leaders.
"Songdo is a cutting-edge city with not only business facilities but also international schools, international hospitals and shopping centers," said IFEZ Commissioner Lee Jong-cheol.
The island has been built from the ground up by reclaiming land from the West Sea and connecting it by either landmass or bridge to create what Incheon and the Korean government predict will become the jewel of Northeast Asia for international business.
But for the city to be a success, more investments need to be inked.
Newly arrived Taipei Mission Representative Benjamin Liang announced that an IFEZ delegation will be visiting Taiwan in the coming weeks to put some of the final touches on a deal with Farglory Land Development Company, a Taiwan-based company engaged in the development, construction, distribution and leasing of commercial and residential buildings.
While Songdo is promoting itself as a city of the future, Vietnam is looking far into the distant future and using Songdo as an example for their development of Hai Phong City.
"Songdo is a good example for Vietnam because it's a model for us and a good experience for our future. That is the reason why so many Vietnamese delegations visit Songdo," said Vietnamese Counselor Vu Dinh Tan.
The harbor city Hai Phong is the third most populous city in Vietnam and is located by the center of the Red River, approximately 100 kilometers from the capital Hanoi.
The Songdo International Business District is connected by a 12 kilometer highway bridge called Incheon Bridge and is just a 15-minute drive from Incheon International Airport, and less than an hour away from the nation's capital.
Furthermore, Incheon International Airport is a gateway to more than 30 percent of the world's population in just three and a half hours flying time.
Along with Yeongjong and Cheongna, it is part of the Incheon Free Economic Zone and will feature the Northeast Asia Trade Tower and the Incheon Tower.
Schools, hospitals, apartments, office buildings and cultural amenities are either built or will be built in the district.
As for quality of life, replicas of architectural hallmarks, including New York City's Central Park and Venice's waterways will be incorporated into the landscape.
This 10-year development project is estimated to cost in excess of $40 billion, making it one of the most expensive development projects ever undertaken.
By its completion date in 2015, the district is planned to contain 80,000 apartments, 40 million square meters of commercial space and 10 million square meters of retail space.
Computers will be built into the houses, streets and offices as part of a wide area network.
The 68-story Northeast Asia Trade Tower currently stands as the nation's tallest building and most advanced corporate center.
The architecturally stunning Songdo Convensia, operating as Incheon's primary convention center, is Korea's largest column-free interior space.
The Incheon Arts Center, a cultural complex, will house a concert hall, opera house, museum of Asian contemporary art, a music conservatory, design school, artist in residence housing, and a library.
The Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea will feature an 18-hole championship golf course, a full clubhouse and a fitness center situated on a 228-acre site which will also include luxury villas and condominiums.
Public and private schools will include an International School for students in kindergarten through high school and plans to offer a state-of-the-art learning environment and international perspectives to prepare them for leading post-secondary schools around the world.
Songdo International City Hospital is planned to boast the latest in medical diagnosis and treatment technologies while also taking advantage of the ever growing medical tourism sector.
By Yoav Cerralbo (yoav@heraldm.com)