Gimpo City’s Gimpo Hangang 2 Compact City Progresses Smoothly... Set to Be Reborn as a Mega New Town on the Scale of Bundang

When Combined, Hangang New Town and Hangang 2 Compact City
Will Create a New Town on the Scale of Bundang
Extensive Integration of Smart City Features and Technologies
A Specialized City Leading the Era of Future Mobility

The Gimpo Hangang 2 Public Housing District Development Project (hereinafter referred to as the Gimpo Hangang 2 Compact City Project), which will lead to the completion of Gimpo Hangang New Town, is progressing smoothly.

Gimpo Hangang 2 District Master Plan. Provided by Gimpo City

With the goal of becoming a "smart self-sufficient city," the Gimpo Hangang 2 Compact City Project is expected to achieve qualitative growth through enhanced urban self-sufficiency, improved metropolitan transportation, and specialized development. This large-scale public housing district development project will transform a total of 7.3 million square meters in Yangchon-eup, Janggi-dong, Masan-dong, and Unyang-dong in Gimpo City, supplying a total of 51,540 housing units.

The project applies the concept of a "compact city around a transit station," promoting high-density, intensive development centered around subway stations within the district. A key differentiator is the plan to establish an integrated new town system by linking development with the existing Gimpo Hangang New Town. When combining the two new towns, the total area will reach 18.17 million square meters (5.77 million pyeong), with an overall housing supply of 121,000 units, creating a city on the scale of Bundang New Town.

Notably, the district will incorporate a wide range of smart city features and technologies. Gimpo Hangang 2 Compact City is set to become a specialized city leading the mobility era by leveraging geographical advantages such as proximity to airports (Gimpo and Incheon), urban rail (Line 5 extension), the Western Metropolitan Rapid Transit, expressway interchanges, and the Han River waterfront. The city will feature waterfront-themed parks and integrate future-oriented transportation systems such as autonomous vehicles and urban air mobility (UAM).

Gimpo City is taking the lead in driving the development of the Gimpo Hangang 2 Compact City. This marks a shift from the previous Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH)-led approach to a city-led initiative, demonstrating a proactive rather than passive stance in compact city development. As a result, tangible improvements are expected in citizen convenience, as well as effective responses to future changes in transportation and industry.

To ensure balanced development of projects linked to the Gimpo Hangang 2 Public Housing District, such as the extension of Seoul Subway Line 5, the creation of the Gimpo Environmental Regeneration Innovation Complex, and investment attraction, the city has established a comprehensive master plan from the early stages of new town development. In addition, through the operation of a metropolitan infrastructure strategy task force, the city is proactively reviewing key issues in each sector and proposing alternatives tailored to Gimpo's specific needs.

Last year, the city actively participated in Master Planner (MP) meetings organized by LH Corporation to develop district plans, presenting concrete development strategies suited to the city's conditions. The city also hosted discussions with LH Corporation, proposing the complete undergrounding of the Gyeyang-Ganghwa Expressway and utilization plans for the space above, as well as requesting a review of transportation circulation systems in line with advances in smart mobility technology.

Location map of Gimpo Hangang District 2. Provided by Gimpo City

In June of last year, the city met with the president and working-level officials of Korea Expressway Corporation to request support and cooperation on key issues, including the full undergrounding of the Gyeyang-Ganghwa Expressway section passing through the Gimpo Hangang 2 Compact City.

Additionally, the city has continued its efforts by hosting meetings with MP committee members and LH Corporation, submitting formal requests to reflect key elements unique to Gimpo in the district plan.

The main points of the city's requests include: commercialization plans for a central mixed-use special planning zone to revitalize the area around the transit station; expansion of central hub parks and the creation of various themed parks by region; increasing the proportion of for-sale housing to offer diverse residential choices; plans for undergrounding and creating parks above the Gyeyang-Ganghwa Expressway; establishing a safe school commute environment; and measures to activate the educational development special zone.