Incheon Songdo Waterfront Phases 1-2 to Begin Construction in August... Resident Briefing on the 30th

Creation of a 9.53 km Waterway by 2026

The second phase of the waterfront project, connecting the lakes and waterways of Songdo International City in Incheon in a 'ㅁ' shape, will begin construction this August.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority announced on the 13th that the Songdo Waterfront Phase 1-2 project will start construction in August and is planned to be completed by 2026.

Phase 1-2 involves creating a 9.53 km long waterway between the Songdo 6 District retention basin and the Aam retention basin. Various waterfront spaces such as walking paths, fountains, sandy beaches, palm trees, observatories, and photo zones will also be established around the waterway.

In this regard, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority will hold a project briefing session at Songdo G Tower on the 30th to listen to residents' opinions. In particular, they plan to seek understanding regarding residents' inconveniences due to the detour road construction that will proceed for two years because of dredging and bridge construction.

Previously, as part of Phase 1-1, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority created a 930m long waterway and waterfront space connecting the sea and the Songdo 6 District retention basin.

In 2025, the Waterfront Phase 2 construction will begin, creating a 5.73 km long waterway between the Incheon New Port hinterland and the Songdo urban area, with completion planned for 2027.

Phase 2 involves developing the site by installing two sluice gates and one lock on a 5.7 km long, 300 m wide waterway in front of Solchan Park and Jack Nicklaus Golf Club to create waterfront tourism facilities.

Songdo Waterfront Phase 1-1 Project Section [Photo by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority]

The Songdo Waterfront project is being implemented in stages to improve water quality through seawater inflow using tidal differences (the difference between low and high tide sea levels) and to enhance disaster prevention functions, as Songdo is adjacent to the sea on three sides. The total length is 21.17 km, with widths ranging from 40 to 500 m, and a total project cost of 621.5 billion KRW will be invested.

Upon completion of the waterfront project, seawater of grade 2 to 3 quality, similar to that of the Incheon coastal sea, will circulate through the Songdo urban area for about 15 days. Additionally, in the event of heavy rainfall, it will secure a freshwater capacity of approximately 10 million tons up to a planned flood level of 3.5 m, helping to prevent flood damage.

Kim Jin-yong, head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, said, "We will create a marine ecological city where nature and people coexist by attracting marinas and water leisure sports facilities," adding, "This will not only attract tourists and revitalize the local economy but also enhance the dignity and value of Songdo as a global city."