GTX-B Construction Begins in Incheon Songdo... Emerging as a Transportation, Commercial, and Tourism Hub

Construction of Incheon National University Station Metropolitan Transfer Center
E-Land Complex and Lotte Mall Songdo Progressing Smoothly
Waterfront to be Completed in 2027... Expecting Increase in Marine Tourists

The Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX)-B line has begun construction in Songdo, Incheon, raising expectations for the area to become a hub for transportation, commerce, tourism, and leisure.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority announced on the 11th that it plans to develop the transfer station at Incheon National University Station, the starting and ending station of the GTX-B line, along with the nearby Startup Park, into a metropolitan transfer center.

This location will feature an efficient public transportation transfer system including GTX-B, Incheon Subway Line 1, and buses, providing convenience to passengers. A transfer parking lot with 113 spaces will be created on a 600㎡ site within Incheon Startup Park and will be operated in line with the opening of GTX-B.

Additionally, the authority is promoting the designation of an outdoor advertising free display zone around the metropolitan transfer center to create a unique design. The plan is to make this area a landmark where the beauty of Songdo and modern trends coexist, offering diverse experiences to tourists.

GTX-B Incheon National University Entrance Station Perspective View [Provided by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority]

Across the street from the metropolitan transfer center, Lotte Mall Songdo is under construction with a target completion date of December 2026. Designed as a resort-style shopping mall, it will feature a 23-story resort, an observatory, and a large shopping mall. Currently, construction is underway on the entrance connecting to Incheon National University Station.

The Songdo E-Land Complex, to be built on the F6-2 block (19,587㎡) of the Songdo International Business District near Incheon National University Station, is also progressing smoothly. Administrative procedures such as traffic impact assessments are ongoing, with construction planned to start in the first half of next year. Prior to this, in February last year, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority and E-Land Retail signed an agreement to complete the project by 2029, including relocating the corporate headquarters, developing a complex shopping mall, attracting a 5-star hotel, and constructing officetels.

Shinsegae is also planning to develop a complex shopping mall and cultural and experiential facilities near Incheon National University Station. The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority expects that with the opening of GTX-B and these shopping facilities, about 200,000 people will use Incheon National University Station daily, totaling 70 million annually.

Yoon Won-seok, head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, said, "Incheon National University Station in Songdo is the starting station of the GTX-B line and is home to three major retail companies. With the opening of GTX-B and the establishment of the transfer center, it will become a representative hub for transportation, commerce, and tourism in Korea."

Projects such as the metropolitan transfer center, Songdo E-Land, Lotte Mall Songdo, and Shinsegae complex shopping mall are being promoted around Incheon National University Station, the starting and terminal station of the GTX-B line. [Provided by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority]

With the opening of GTX-B, demand from tourists using marine leisure facilities is also expected to increase significantly.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority completed the first phase of the Songdo Waterfront project in June 2022 and began the second phase at the end of last month, aiming for completion in 2027.

The Songdo Waterfront project, which aims to improve water quality, ensure flood safety, and create waterfront spaces, will be carried out in four phases by 2027 with a budget of 621.5 billion KRW. It will connect Songdo’s retention ponds and waterways in a square ("ㅁ") shape over a total length of 21.17 km and widths ranging from 40 to 500 meters, installing bridges, marina facilities, and more.

The authority expects that once the Songdo Waterfront is completed, marina and water leisure sports activities and related industries will be revitalized, contributing to attracting tourists.

Meanwhile, the GTX-B line spans 82.8 km from Incheon National University Station to Namyangju Maseok Station. Construction began in the first half of this year, with an opening target of 2030. The groundbreaking ceremony for GTX-B was held on the 7th at Songdo Convensia.

Upon completion, travel time from Incheon National University to Seoul Station will be reduced from over 80 minutes to 30 minutes, and from Namyangju Maseok to Seoul Cheongnyangni will be shortened from over 45 minutes to 23 minutes. The government plans to extend the GTX-B line to Gapyeong in Gyeonggi Province and Chuncheon City in Gangwon Province.