Incheon City announced on the 16th that it has finalized the integrated master plan for 'Ecometacity,' a key project for the future city development of Incheon, on May 19 and is now moving forward with the project.

Expected aerial view of the Eco-Meta City, Royal Park City, and Geomdan New Town development projects. /Courtesy of the Handul District 3 Urban Development Association

This project has set its vision as 'a healthy and sustainable city' and 'a future city that everyone dreams of.' The core goal is to create an 'eco-friendly complex cultural city' where people, nature, and culture harmonize.

Ahead of the division of the Geomdan district in July next year, it will be linked with the currently developing Geomdan New Town and the privately-led Royal Park City development.

According to this integrated master plan, Ecometacity is designed with the central axis along Joongbong-daero in Seo-gu, Incheon, separating the eastern and western living zones, and linking the entire city in a pleasant and organic space structure through green corridors that connect east-west and north-south.

The green corridors will not only serve as an ecological connectivity network but also play a role in forming walkable living zones. Plans are in place to significantly improve residential conditions in connection with existing development projects such as Wangil District 1 (500,000㎡), Geomdan District 3 (520,000㎡), Geomdan District 5 (420,000㎡), and Handul District (560,000㎡).

Ecometacity will be developed in two phases sequentially. Phase one will target the area around Saweol Village on the east side of Joongbong-daero. Incheon City plans to finalize the development plan for phase one by next year and complete the establishment of residential, commercial, and cultural complex facilities by 2032. Phase two will be developed in the area west of Joongbong-daero, sequentially after phase one.

In particular, commercial facilities within the central core living zone, which is to be linked with urban rail, will be developed on a scale that can accommodate two department stores. The Hanul District 3 in Saweol Village is currently undergoing approval procedures. Including this master plan is expected to accelerate the development speed.

Through this development, Geomdan District is expected to form a total urban area of 15 million㎡ connecting Ecometacity (1.96 million㎡) and Royal Park City (2 million㎡) being developed by DK Asia, along with Incheon Geomdan New Town (11.1 million㎡). Approximately 100,000 dwellings will be supplied, which is about 15 times the area of Luwon City.

Incheon City is also expanding transportation infrastructure along with the establishment of Ecometacity. First, a road connecting Wondang-daero and Dream-ro is scheduled to open in September. This road will connect the east side of Ecometacity and the existing central axis of Geomdan New Town. In December, an extension of the road connecting Geomdan Industrial Complex and the Geomdan bypass road is also planned to open.

In 2027, construction of the Joongbong Tunnel is scheduled to start, aiming for completion by 2032. The livability and convenience of life in Ecometacity are expected to be significantly enhanced.

Costco Cheongna, the transfer of the Hana Financial Group headquarters (scheduled for the first half of next year), Starfield Cheongna (scheduled for 2027), and Asan Medical Center Cheongna (expected to open in 2029) will all be located within an 8-minute living radius.

Ecometacity is expected to become a key axis connecting Songdo and Geomdan vertically in the future with the Incheon Urban Railway Circular Line 3. It will connect with the Gyeonggi Provincial Express Railway (GTX) Line D, Seoul Subway Line 7, and Incheon Urban Rail Lines 1 and 2.

In July next year, a new district called Geomdan District will be established, which will be split from Seo-gu, Incheon. Korea’s largest aquarium and theme park, developed by Hanwha Hotel & Resort, is also scheduled for completion in 2027.

Hwang Hyo-jin, Deputy Mayor of Global City Affairs for Incheon, noted that 'this Ecometacity urban development project will be successfully promoted with close cooperation from the Incheon City and relevant departments, including Seo-gu,' and added, 'the overall residential environment of Geomdan will also be improved through the linkage of major development projects such as Wangil District 1, Geomdan Districts 3 and 5, and Handul District.'