Throwback Thursday--Songdo: Korea City of the Future 2013-2024

Over the years, I have witnessed the unique development of Songdo, a city that has consistently attracted international attention due to its Smart, Connected, and Adaptable nature.

In 2013, after several prior years as an advisor on the project, I reported in KOREA on its unique features, which make it an attractive prospect for investors and urban planners alike.

Songdo was viewed as the model for its sustainable and environmentally friendly footprint and as an advanced smart city focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).

The Songdo vision in the early 2000s was to build an international business-friendly hub on the West coast of South Korea. The community with Western amenities was built on reclaimed land. It covered roughly 1500 Acres, complete with a Central Park, an international school, and a Jack Nichols-designed golf course–all within a short distance of the Incheon shipping port and international airport.

Over the years, Songdo IBD, now Songdo International City, has broadened beyond FDI to include residential, domestic companies, and NGOs. As part of the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), created in 2003 and designated Korea’s first free economic zone, Songdo is one of three districts—along with Cheongna and the airport’s Yeongjong International City.

Today, Songdo continues to evolve as an urban district under the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), with ongoing efforts to foster its development. These continuous efforts are a testament to the city's commitment to progress and growth, instilling optimism about its future.

As Dr. Won Sok Yun, Commissioner of the IFEZ, notes, "We will aim to attract foreign and domestic investment in pharma and healthcare, tourism and leisure, and high-tech industries to create a 'world-class city'."