Incheon mayor unveils urban remaking plan on culture, housing and transport
In short
Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae presented an urban space plan on 21 October aimed at turning Incheon from a city people pass through into one they stay in. It has three strands, called Life, Live and Link, covering culture and tourism, housing, and transport. The city plans to tie the plan to its bid to host the 2028 G20 summit.
Read the full story 2 min read
Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae presented an urban space vision called 'Incheon Urban Space Remaking' on 21 October at the city hall briefing room. The plan covers culture and tourism, housing and transport, and aims to turn Incheon from a city people pass through into one where they stay. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The plan has three parts: a city where enjoyment stays (Life), a city that builds lives (Live) and a one-hour living-zone city (Link). Under Life, the city plans to link the Cheongna film and culture complex, the Jemulpo open-port area and Munhak. Chosun Ilbo reported that the complex's development plan change had passed review by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Kyunghyang Shinmun said the review was recently completed. The Munhak Stadium area is to become a 'K-Culture Park' with performances and esports. The city also plans to develop a new tourist hub linking the Bupyeong Camp Market park and the Bupyeong underground shopping arcade. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
Under Live, the city plans to speed up redevelopment of six aging planned-city districts totalling 16,267 households through an 'Incheon-style administrative expressway' fast-track system. Kyunghyang Shinmun and Kukmin Ilbo said this would use a chief planner, an expert committee and integrated deliberation. The city plans to select about 10,000 households of new project sites each year and to introduce cooperative-style 'Ieum Housing' (이음주택) apartments. Newsis added youth rental housing, and Kyunghyang Shinmun said the city would pursue youth purchase-rental housing near stations. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Under Link, the city plans to promote steady progress on the GTX-B line and to seek inclusion of GTX D and E lines in the fifth national railway network plan. On roads, the city plans the Gyeyang-Ganghwa expressway, undergrounding of the Gyeongin Expressway and a new Sora interchange. Kukmin Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo also listed widening of the Yeongdong Expressway. Newsis, Kukmin Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo reported plans for autonomous buses; Kukmin Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo said they would use central bus lanes. Dong-A Ilbo said the mayor is reviewing a ring-road network linking the Dongbu and Jungbu arterial roads. [ 2 , 3 , 7 ]
Chosun Ilbo reported that the city intends to link the plan to its bid to host the 2028 G20 summit. According to Kukmin Ilbo, Park said the summit is a decisive chance to show the value of Incheon as a city where people stay. Park said the plan would 'return time on the road' to citizens, according to Newsis and Kukmin Ilbo. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The documents do not give costs, funding or completion dates for most of the projects. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The plan sets out the Incheon city government's priorities for tourism sites, housing supply and transport links. Most items are described as things the city will pursue, and the documents give no costs or timetables.
Key facts
- Mayor Park Chan-dae presented the 'Incheon Urban Space Remaking' vision on 21 October at the city hall briefing room. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The plan has three visions: a city where enjoyment stays (Life), a city that builds lives (Live) and a one-hour living-zone city (Link). [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- Under Life, the city plans to link the Cheongna film and culture complex with the Jemulpo open-port area and Munhak, and to develop a 'K-Culture Park' around Munhak Stadium. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Under Live, the city plans to speed up redevelopment of six aging planned-city districts totalling 16,267 households, and to introduce cooperative-style 'Ieum Housing' (이음주택) apartments. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Under Link, the city plans to seek inclusion of GTX D and E lines in the fifth national railway network plan and to expand expressways and other roads. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 ]
- The city intends to link the plan to its bid to host the 2028 G20 summit. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Park Chan-dae presented the three-part vision (Life, Live, Link) on 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- The plan includes a K-Culture Park around Munhak Stadium and links between Cheongna, Jemulpo and Munhak. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- Redevelopment of six aging planned-city districts with 16,267 households is to be accelerated through a city fast-track system, and about 10,000 households of new project sites are to be selected each year. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The city plans to seek inclusion of GTX D and E lines in the fifth national railway network plan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 ]
- Incheon is bidding to host the 2028 G20 summit and links the plan to that effort. [ 1 , 3 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Costs, funding sources and timetables for most projects. None of the documents give budgets or completion dates for the plan's projects.
- Whether some transport items are firm plans. Dong-A Ilbo says the mayor is reviewing a ring-road network and some rail and road links, while other outlets list them as planned.
- How the zoning change for quasi-residential areas is described. Kyunghyang Shinmun says the floor-area ratio will be raised; Kukmin Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo say the floor-area system will be overhauled.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo published its report on the mayor's press conference of 21 October. [ 1 ]
- Newsis published its report on the vision announced at the city hall briefing room. [ 2 ]
- Kukmin Ilbo published its report linking the plan to the G20 bid. [ 3 ]
- Kyunghyang Shinmun published its report on the plan. [ 4 ]
- Maeil Business published its report on the plan. [ 5 ]