Someday, when Seoul’s little sister Incheon reaches its potential, public relations executive Kim Heejung will be able brag about having been a pioneer. An Incheon resident since April this year, Kim had to exchange the trendy life in Seoul for the convenience of being nearer her office. “Travelling from Seoul to Incheon takes an hour by car, bus and subway,” she says. “I can get everything I need in Incheon, although Seoul has a wider variety of goods and services.”
For now, that is. Even the former Seoulite isn’t immune to the energy generated by the drive of Incheon’s master planner, the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) Authority, to transform the unassuming port city into a booming hub. “Something big is happening here,” Kim declares. “Construction projects and events are taking place all the time.”
Known in the past by various names such as Michuhol, Soseong-hyeon and Inju, until settling on its present title in 1949, Incheon was already an established entrepot in the 17th century with a population of 4,700. That number has since increased to 2.6 million, occupying an area of 986 sq km classified by the United Nations as a “sustainable development city”.
There are several factors going for this satellite city. Following the IFEZ Authority’s master plan, construction started in 2003 – the same year the Korean central government designated Incheon a special economic zone – and is being conducted in three phases, the first to be completed by 2009, the second by 2014 and the third and final in 2020. Marked for expansion are the Songdo and Cheongna areas on the mainland near Seoul and the island of Yeongjong, site of Incheon International Airport – which replaced the much-used Gimpo Airport – and its two hotels, the Hyatt Regency and the Best Western Premier.
Fast-forward to 2010 – by then Yeongjong’s infrastructure is due to be incredibly enhanced, with an international financial district, automobile factory complex, entertainment precinct and sports parks. On the mainland adjacent to Yeongjong, 5,325 hectares of Songdo will be dedicated to industries involved in information and communications technology and biotechnology at a projected cost of US$24.8 billion. The 1,778-hectare Cheongna will feature residential blocks, entertainment and commercial developments to be built for US$1.5 billion. GM Daewoo is completing an R&D facility by the end of this year at the Incheon High-Tech Park.
Like any work-in-progress, it takes a stretch of the imagination to envision Incheon transformed into a full-fledged metropolis. The casual visitor now only sees a proliferation of industrial buildings from which streams of uniformed employees emerge at lunchtime eager for their fix of the country’s staple, bulgogi, the traditional Korean meat dish.
At present, there is no Gangnam (Seoul’s version of Ginza in Tokyo), nor any upmarket malls or even a financial district, the usual urban hallmarks, but these will come. IFEZ Authority spokesperson Park Youngsik says: “The total infrastructure investment in the IFEZ amounts to approximately US$15 billion. When complete, IFEZ will provide the best convenience, accessibility and amenities for business people.
“IFEZ is in the middle of many prestigious projects in terms of land development, and the construction of infrastructure and business and residential facilities. By 2014, the world will witness the birth of a new global business centre.” To date, the roster of investors includes Samsung, Hyundai, Yonsei University, steel producer POSCO, international property developers Gale International and Portman Holdings, German logistics company Schenker, Morgan Stanley, DHL and biopharmaceutical firm VaxGen.
Projects in the pipeline include the Songdo Conventia (Convention Centre), which is expected to begin operations in October 2009 and will offer 8,390 sqm of exhibition space for up to 2,000 people and 23 meeting rooms totalling 2,286 sqm for 30 to 500; a Jack Nicklaus-designed, 77,250 sqm golf course with 18 holes and villas completing in August 2009; residential and commercial buildings planned for January 2009 completion; and the 65-storey Northeast Asia Trade Tower comprising offices and a 204-room hotel, due to open in March 2010. There will also be an English-medium international school ready for the autumn 2008 intake at kindergarten to high-school entry levels. A 151-storey Incheon Twin Towers has also been proposed and, once ready, will join the pantheon of the world’s tallest buildings.
Accessibility to Incheon will improve when the 12.3km, US$1.6 billion Incheon Bridge is opened in 2009, linking Incheon airport and the Songdo area and cutting down transit time between the two from one hour to 15 minutes. Also in the pipeline is a 6.5km subway extension linking downtown Incheon and Songdo, which connects to the Seoul subway and the train service between the airport and downtown Seoul. “IFEZ is a built-from-scratch city based on a next-generation paradigm of the modern digital city or U-City,” Park says. “A ubiquitous wireless network system will allow the luxury of connectivity 24/7, anytime and anywhere. Yet, while equipping itself with state-of-the-art technology, IFEZ will provide an eco-friendly living environment including more than 30 per cent green space. Thus, you will feel like you are in the middle of nature.”
Outstanding landmarks, in the style of the canals of Italy and Sydney Opera House, as well as futuristic skyscrapers and traditional Korean structures, will shape the landscape. In a bid to rank among the top five global air hubs – part of its Vision 2010 programme – the Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) has announced plans to establish a “fashion island” and water park, as two of its several “Air City” projects proposed for the Yeongjong area.
A collaboration between IIAC and the Fédération Française du Prêt à Porter Féminin, the 65-hectare complex next to the airport will feature a fashion convention centre, fashion academy, shopping mall and other facilities, totalling about US$1 billion. Construction starts next year and finishes in 2014. The water park has been conceptualised as a venue for speed-boat racing and other leisure activities including a Formula 1 power boat event. The first phase of development is estimated at US$2.5 million and is due to be completed by 2010.
Park concludes: “IFEZ will become a very promising business city. At this development stage, many features are being added and improved continuously. Keeping this in mind, it will spare no effort to advance and see progress.”
Incheon is wasting no time in raising its international profile, preparing to host the 2009 World City Expo and 2014 Asian Games. And with the anticipated spike in arrivals will come a greater demand for hotel rooms. Since Incheon has only 829 rooms, Seoul’s hotels are expected to benefit, a fact welcomed by the industry.
“People coming for big events like the 2014 Asian Games will book a room in Seoul because Incheon doesn’t have enough five-star hotels,” says Park Jae-Hong, deputy general manager of the 1,349-room Lotte Hotel Seoul.“The distance between Seoul and Incheon is not so far, taking just one hour to commute. We [Lotte Hotel] can provide a shuttle service between Seoul and Incheon.”
JW Marriott Seoul general manager, Robert Stark, says: “Being sister cities, Seoul and Incheon will benefit when any large event comes to town. Seoul is known as a shopping mecca and people will build time into their schedule to satisfy their shopping urges. Seoul will also benefit from the spillover of additional room nights, along with visitors coming for its cosmopolitan lifestyle, trendy restaurants, culture and heritage.”
As one of Incheon’s first residents, Hyatt Regency was faced with the challenge of attracting Seoulites and foreign visitors to try its facilities. Chic interiors, the innovative “8” multi-restaurant concept, a cool bar and a raft of meeting venues did the trick. Honeymooners and corporate event participants have since been providing regular business, and the Golden Gate Casino, which opened in 2005, added another reason to stay.
Hyatt Regency general manager, Kai Speth says: “Incheon is a major port city in Korea and occupies a strategically important position for trade and cultural exchange, with air and sea routes connecting Korea to the rest of the world.”
Speth also mentions the International Business Centre – 165,000 sqm of space south of Incheon’s passenger terminal which is available for hotel, entertainment and office development. The facility, which is currently home to Korean Airlines, Samsung and Daewoo Construction, acts as a stimulus for international trade activities and investments.
With South Korea’s GDP growing at a steady 5 per cent, Incheon’s development plans are both bold and timely. And if the at present westerners are only aware of the city as housing Seoul’s airport, it’s a safe bet that in five years time it will have won recognition in its own right.
Useful websites
- Incheon Free Economic Zone eng.ifez.go.kr
- Incheon Metropolitan City english.incheon.go.kr
- Incheon International Airport airport.or.kr/eng/home.jsp
- Asian Games Incheon 2014 english.incheon2014ag.org
Where to stay
Best Western Premier Incheon Airport Hotel bestwestern.comThis four-star, 306-room hotel provides business traveller essentials like two restaurants (European and Korean, and Japanese), a gym, 24-hour business centre and in-room internet.
Hyatt Regency Incheon incheon.regency.hyatt.com
Over 3,300 sqm of meeting space including a pillarless ballroom, all-day dining, indoor pool, gym and casino are just some of the perks offered by the five-star, 523-room property.
Getting there
The only direct services to Seoul from the UK are with Korean Air (daily) and Asiana Airlines (four times weekly) from Heathrow. Return fares with Korean Air start from £659 for economy, £2,271 for business class and £10,207 for first class for mid-week flights in September including a Saturday night stay. Equivalent fares with Asiana start at £650 for economy and £2,030 for business.
