"Three Meals a Day, Golf, and Swimming... No Need to Go Out" A Day Changed by Apartment Life [Report]

A Day in Singomdan Royal Park City II:
"Three Meals a Day, Golf, Movies...
You Never Have to Leave the Apartment"

"Eating apartment food, exercising, playing golf, and watching movies?before you know it, the whole day is gone. There's no need to go outside."

On the 9th, a resident of 'Singomdan Royal Park City II' in Seo-gu, Incheon, said, "We started the three-meal service this month, and since the menu changes daily and the food tastes good, I use it often," adding, "With less worry about what to eat for each meal, life has become much more relaxed."

On the 9th, residents were serving themselves food prepared in a hotel-style buffet at the 'Royal Trinity Lounge Restaurant' within the 'Singumdan Royal Park City II' complex in Seo-gu, Incheon. Shinsegae Food employees wore masks and gloves for hygiene while organizing and replenishing the food. The Royal Park City logo was attached to the wall, emphasizing the premium image of the apartment offering luxury hotel-style services. Photo by Choi Seoyoon

The restaurant was fully occupied from early lunch hours. The word-of-mouth claim that it is "better than hotel breakfast" was no exaggeration. The buffet-style restaurant, open to external visitors as well, had a line even before opening.

That day's lunch menu featured braised Spanish mackerel as the main dish, along with hand-pulled dough soup, meatball chili stir-fry, mung bean pancakes, and young radish soybean paste side dishes. A 'hotel-style dining space' with freshly cooked hot soup, neatly arranged side dishes, a salad bar, and desserts was provided within the apartment community. Residents could use the service for 10,000 KRW, and outsiders for 13,000 KRW.

On the 9th, residents were lined up waiting to use the meal service at the 'Royal Trinity Lounge Restaurant' within the 'Singomdan Royal Park City II' complex in Seo-gu, Incheon. Photo by Choi Seoyoon

◆"Can three meals a day really work in Incheon?"= The three-meal service is difficult to provide in apartments. If the complex is small, economies of scale do not form. Due to profitability issues, residents would have to bear labor and space rental costs or the meal prices would have to be raised. For this reason, apartments in Seoul's Gangnam area, which pursue daily luxury, offer three-meal services.

When Royal Park City II planned to introduce the three-meal service, food and beverage companies were hesitant. Most were skeptical, asking, "Will three meals a day work in Incheon?" and doubting whether people would buy meals in an apartment that is not even in Gangnam.

DK Asia, the developer of Royal Park City II, gained know-how by operating a direct three-meal service at 'Geomam Station Royal Park City Prugio (GeomroPu),' a 4,800-household complex. They concluded that a complex must have at least 1,500 households to be profitable and operate stably.

On the 9th, a view of the 'Royal Trinity Lounge Restaurant' within the 'Singomdan Royal Park City II' complex in Seo-gu, Incheon. Photo by Choi Seoyoon

A DK Asia official said, "Through operating GeomroPu, we directly confirmed that maintaining three meals is difficult in small complexes," adding, "Based on this experience and know-how, we gained confidence that we can stably operate three meals until the end in Royal Park City II, which has 1,500 households."

Later, Pulmuone joined the GeomroPu three-meal service saying, "Let's give it a try." For Royal Park City II's three-meal operation, not only Pulmuone but also large companies like Shinsegae Food actively expressed their willingness to participate.

As DK Asia's first introduction of the three-meal service in Incheon successfully settled and proved to be a stable operating model, other companies saw it as a good opportunity to enhance brand image and secure profits. The final operation was entrusted to Shinsegae Food, which has provided three meals in luxury apartment complexes such as One Bailey in Seocho-gu, Seoul, and Trimage in Seongdong-gu.

Indoor golf practice range on the 2nd floor within the 'Singomdan Royal Park City II' complex in Seo-gu, Incheon. The indoor golf practice range, approximately 30 meters in length, is divided into the 1st and 2nd floors. Each of the 14 total hitting bays is equipped with GDR devices that precisely analyze swing posture, allowing for personalized practice. Photo by Choi Seoyoon

◆From Jongno Academy and university hospitals to golf courses and swimming pools within the complex... Everything is here even if it's not Gangnam= Royal Park City II, developed jointly by first-tier construction companies Daewoo Engineering & Construction (construction) and Samsung C&T (landscaping), aims to be a hotel-level residential complex equipped with a 30m double-deck indoor golf range, cinema, swimming pool, sauna, kids caf?, gender-segregated reading rooms, and a sky lounge. The fitness center introduced 'TechnoGym' equipment costing tens of millions of KRW per machine as part of DK Asia's premium strategy. Yacht services are provided nearby at the Ara Waterway for residents, and private security guards are stationed within the complex at all times.

A resident met at the tea house, a resting area within the complex, said, "I came here looking for a place where I could live comfortably while reducing living expenses before retirement," adding, "After walking around the complex once, I thought, 'This is the place.' Seoul is burdensome, and even Suwon Gwanggyo costs a lot to live in. Here, you can exercise and enjoy cultural life without going far. My husband likes the golf course within the complex the most. He even says he's 'very happy.'"

Jo Hyun-wook, Executive Director who recently joined DK Asia after serving as Marketing and Sales Director at Hyundai Engineering & Construction, emphasized, "It's really a great place to raise children," adding, "The natural environment is well established, and it is quiet and safe without harmful facilities." He said, "It's better to live leisurely in a new home with a natural environment than to live forcibly in an old house in the city on a lease."

Swimming pool and sauna within the 'Singomdan Royal Park City II' complex in Seo-gu, Incheon. Once the residents' representative meeting is formed, usage fees for community facilities such as the swimming pool are expected to be set. Since the nearby 'Geomam Station Royal Park City Prugio (4,800 households)' charges 25,000 KRW per month for all facility usage fees, the fees here are expected to be set similarly or slightly higher. Photo by Choi Seoyoon

The complex is a 5-minute drive from Geomdan Sageori Station on Incheon Line 2 and Geomam Station on the Airport Railroad. DK Asia operates six shuttle buses to Geomam Station. The route between Geomdan Sageori Station and Wanggil Elementary School runs every 10 minutes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This service is provided free of charge by DK Asia for five years.

DK Asia is also focusing on educational and medical infrastructure within the complex. Like GeomroPu, Royal Park City II plans to host well-known domestic academies. DK Asia has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary's Hospital to provide medical benefits for residents. They are considering having medical staff stationed in a separate building within the complex.

Meanwhile, DK Asia is developing the first private-sector smart eco-city spanning 4.2 million square meters (1.27 million pyeong) with 36,500 households. The first phase, GeomroPu, has been completed, and the second phase, Royal Park City II, is currently in post-sale. A DK Asia official said, "We want to make this area the best affluent neighborhood in Incheon, a 'resort-style city,'" adding, "It will be completed as a 'premium brand town' developed solely by first-tier construction companies."

A view of the Skywalk within the Shingeomdan Royal Park City II complex in Seo-gu, Incheon. The length is 55 meters, making it the longest Skywalk within an apartment complex in Korea. Around the Skywalk, a European-style "Queens Garden" and a bamboo forest path have been created. The walking trail is designed to overlook the fountain and garden. It is connected to two tea houses, allowing residents to use it as a social gathering space. DK Asia has allocated 38% of the entire complex to landscaping, more than twice the average for general apartment complexes (15%). Photo by Choi Seoyoon