Incheon Youth Startup Facility 'Dream Up Valley' to Proceed with Project After Contaminated Soil Remediation

Dream Up Valley Bird's-eye View [Provided by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City announced on the 26th that it will temporarily halt construction at the 'Dream Up Valley' project site in Yonghyeon-dong, which is being developed as youth startup housing and startup facilities, due to the discovery of contaminated soil.

Selected in 2017 through a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport public contest, Dream Up Valley is a work-live integrated startup support facility where youth startup housing and startup facilities are built together.

On a 7,617㎡ site, with a project budget of 72.7 billion KRW, 158 startup support housing units and startup support facilities (11,042㎡) including coworking spaces, office spaces, studios, and meeting rooms will be constructed.

Dream Up Valley was originally planned to be developed at 667 Yonghyeon-dong, Michuhol-gu, but was relocated to 664-3 following a reduction of the project site in 2018. After design changes and approval of the project plan by the Ministry of Land last year, a construction company was selected last month. Completion is scheduled for July 2024.

So far, the Dream Up Valley project has caused conflicts among nearby residents with divided opinions over the provision of youth startup spaces, revitalization of the local economy, protection of the endangered frog species Maengkkongi, and installation of public facilities.

During the past year, while communicating with residents and promoting the project, contaminated soil was discovered during the soundproof wall construction at the pre-construction preparation stage, leading the city to decide to suspend construction until the contamination is fully addressed.

However, the city plans to continue installing fences to block the entry of nearby Maengkkongi frogs into the project site and proceed with the project commencement procedures unrelated to the contaminated soil cleanup.

An Incheon city official stated, "Following the administrative order from Michuhol-gu, we will promptly complete the contaminated soil cleanup after sample collection and detailed investigation, and then resume the Dream Up Valley development project."