View source for Songdo

{{Short description|Smart city in the Seoul Capital Area, South Korea}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                   = Songdo
|native_name            = 송도/松島
|native_name_lang       = ko
|official_name          = Songdo International Business District
|settlement_type        = International Business District
|motto                  =
|image_skyline          = South Korea, Incheon, Songdo, the Sharp Central Park Towers.jpg
|image_caption          = The six Central Park Towers
|pushpin_map            = South Korea
|pushpin_label_position = 
|pushpin_map_caption    = Location of Songdo in South Korea
|pushpin_mapsize        =
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       = [[South Korea]]
|subdivision_type1      = [[Regions of Korea|Region]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Seoul Capital Area]]
|subdivision_type2      = Provincial level
|subdivision_name2      = [[Incheon]]
|coordinates            = {{coord|37|23|06|N|126|38|42|E|region:KR|display=inline,title}}
|population_as_of       = 2020<ref name=ifez>[https://www.ifez.go.kr/noti002/2001352?curPage=1 IFEZ 인구통계 현황(2020년 6월말 기준)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025074041/http://www.ifez.go.kr/noti002/2001352?curPage=1 |date=2020-10-25 }}. 인천경제자유구역청. 2020년 8월 7일 확인</ref>
|area_total_km2                  = 53.4
|population_total       = 167,346
|총인구_조사연도           = 
|utc_offset             = +9
|timezone               = [[Korea Standard Time]]
|postal_code_type       =  
|postal_code            =
|area_code              =
|footnotes              = 
}}

'''Songdo''' ({{Korean|hangul=송도}}), officially known as '''Songdo International Business District (Songdo IBD)''', is a [[smart city]]<ref>{{Cite book |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-68434-5_15 |chapter="Green" and "Smart" Cities Diffusion: The Case of Songdo, Korea |title=International Perspectives on Translation, Education and Innovation in Japanese and Korean Societies |year=2018 |last1=Lichá |first1=Alexandra |pages=223–240 |isbn=978-3-319-68432-1}}</ref> built on {{cvt|1500|acre|ha|order=flip|sigfig=1}} of [[Land reclamation|reclaimed land]] along [[Incheon]]'s waterfront,<ref>{{cite web |first=Christopher |last=Henry |url=http://www.archdaily.com/118790/songdo-international-business-district-kpf/ |title=Songdo International Business District / KPF |date=14 March 2011 |publisher=Arch Daily |access-date=2012-05-13 |archive-date=2020-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130204902/https://www.archdaily.com/118790/songdo-international-business-district-kpf |url-status=live }}</ref> {{cvt|30|km}} southwest of [[Seoul]], South Korea. It is connected to [[Incheon International Airport]] by a {{cvt|12.3|km|adj=on}} reinforced concrete highway bridge called [[Incheon Bridge]]. Along with [[Yeongjong]] and [[Cheongna]], it is part of the [[Incheon Free Economic Zone]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Usman W. |last=Chohan |url=https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/news/ubiquitous-city-%E2%80%93-songdo-%EC%86%A1%EB%8F%84-236653 |title=The Ubiquitous City – Songdo (송도) |publisher=McGill University |access-date=2014-05-14 |archive-date=2014-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514204109/https://www.mcgill.ca/channels/news/ubiquitous-city-%E2%80%93-songdo-%EC%86%A1%EB%8F%84-236653 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Songdo [[smart city]] features amenities across the district. Homages of architectural hallmarks, including [[Central Park|New York City's Central Park]] and [[Venice#Waterways|Venice's waterways]], will also be incorporated. Many of the buildings were constructed as [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]]-certified space, the green building certification by the [[U.S. Green Building Council|United States Green Building Council]].

Today, Songdo is a community of 167,000 residents located within one of three Free Economic Zones (IFEZ) in Incheon, South Korea. The project has been approximately 86% completed. Aside from residential areas, the location is also home to a Global Campus, Pharma Hub, Startup Center, and international organizations such as the [[Green Climate Fund]].<ref name="Songdo International City">{{cite web|url=https://www.ifez.go.kr/world/content/view.do?sn=501|title= Songdo International City }}</ref>

==Development==

[[File:Songdo Central Park and Posco Tower Songdo.jpg|thumb|Songdo Central Park and Posco Tower Songdo]]
[[File:South Korea, Incheon, Songdo, the Prugio Central Park Towers, Sharp First World Towers, and Sheraton Hotel.jpg|thumb|Songdo by night]]
[[File:Songdo Central Park in 2021.jpg|thumb|Architecture in Songdo IBD]]
[[File:South Korea, Incheon (Songdo), Artwin Prugio Towers (1).jpg|thumb|The Artwin Prugio Towers]]
Built on {{cvt|1500|acre|ha|order=flip|sigfig=1}} of land reclaimed from the Yellow Sea off Incheon, about {{cvt|35|mi|km|order=flip}} from the South's capital Seoul, Songdo district was one the largest private real estate developments in history{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}. By its completion date in 2015, the district was planned to contain 80,000 apartments, {{cvt|50000000|sqft|m2|order=flip|sigfig=1}} of office space, and {{cvt|10000000|sqft|m2|order=flip|sigfig=1}} of retail space.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/KK12Dg02.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130033343/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/KK12Dg02.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=30 November 2009 |title=Asia Times Online :: Korea News and Korean Business and Economy, Pyongyang News |first=Asia Time |last=Online |website=www.atimes.com |access-date=5 June 2017}}</ref> The 65-floor [[Northeast Asia Trade Tower]] became South Korea's tallest building. Computers have been built into the houses, streets, and offices as part of a [[wide area network]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/new-songdo-city-atlantis-of-the-far-east-1712252.html |location=London |work=The Independent |title=New Songdo City: Atlantis of the Far East - Asia, World - The Independent |date=2009-06-22 |access-date=2017-09-14 |archive-date=2017-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105145406/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/new-songdo-city-atlantis-of-the-far-east-1712252.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Songdo IBD was part of former President [[Lee Myung-bak]]'s effort to promote green and low-carbon growth as an avenue for future development after 60 years of reliance on export-oriented manufacturing. The nation launched a $38 billion economic stimulus package in January 2009, with over 80% of the total earmarked for green investment. The Framework Act for Low Carbon Green Growth, passed by Korea's National Assembly in 2010, increased this to $83.6 billion spanning five years. Under this initiative, the Songdo IBD is being developed as a [[sustainable city]] with more than 40% of its area reserved for green space, including the park of {{cvt|100|acre|ha|order=flip}}, {{cvt|16|mi|km|order=flip}} of bicycling lanes, numerous charging stations for electric vehicles and a waste collection system that eliminates the need for trash trucks. Also, it is the first district in Korea to have all of its major buildings on par or beyond [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]]'s requirements.<ref>{{cite web |website=Business Destinations |url=https://www.businessdestinations.com/featured/south-koreas-songdo-city/ |title=South Korea's hi-tech city: Songdo |date=December 9, 2013 |first=Rita |last=Lobo |access-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-date=October 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025092818/https://www.businessdestinations.com/featured/south-koreas-songdo-city/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Three additional foreign university campuses opened in 2014, for a total of four total universities located within an international business district some {{cvt|40|mi|km|sigfig=1|order=flip}} from Seoul, including the first overseas university that opened in Korea, the State University of New York, Stony Brook.<ref name="Park Eun-jee">{{cite news |last=Park |first=Eun-jee |title=SUNY Stony Brook brings math and science expertise to Songdo campus |url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2968732 |access-date=6 April 2013 |newspaper=Korea jongang Daily |archive-date=30 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930051853/http://ww38.koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2968732 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> The schools will be funded by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, the Incheon Free Economic Zone and the Incheon Metropolitan Government. The development is part of a $35 billion effort by the Korean government to form an international business district that houses competitive universities from around the world. In spring 2014, [[George Mason University]] (Fairfax, Virginia) opened its Korean campus in Songdo to support undergraduate academic interests and professional development programming for local corporations. Additionally, [[University of Utah]] anticipated opening a satellite campus in March 2014 with several American bachelor's degrees offered in Social Sciences, along with an M.A. in Applied Linguistics<ref>{{cite news |last=상희 |first=배 |script-title=ko:송도 글로벌캠퍼스에 내년 외국대 분교 3곳 문 열어 |url=http://www.news-y.co.kr/MYH20130405006800038/ |access-date=6 April 2013 |newspaper=yanhapnews |archive-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221314/http://www.news-y.co.kr/MYH20130405006800038/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Sustainability==
Though the city is not yet{{As of?|date=May 2023}} complete, Songdo IBD is home to 106 LEED certified buildings that fall under 12 projects, or 22 million sq ft of LEED-certified space. This number includes several 'firsts' for LEED in Korea and Asia, including the first LEED-certified hotel in Korea (the [[Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel|Sheraton Incheon]]), the first certified residential tower in Korea (Central Park 1), and the first certified convention hall in Asia ([[Songdo Convensia|Convensia]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usgbc.org/articles/koreas-songdo-international-business-district |title=Korea's Songdo International Business District - U.S. Green Building Council |website=www.usgbc.org |access-date=5 June 2017 |archive-date=5 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605021028/http://www.usgbc.org/articles/koreas-songdo-international-business-district |url-status=live }}</ref> The 50,000 sq ft clubhouse for the [[Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea]] which hosted the Presidents Cup in 2015 is also certified. Songdo IBD alone represents 40% of all LEED-certified space in South Korea.<ref name="usgbc.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.usgbc.org/articles/championship-golf-course-secures-songdo-ibd%E2%80%99s-sustainable-status |title=Championship golf course secures Songdo IBD's sustainable status - U.S. Green Building Council |website=www.usgbc.org |access-date=5 June 2017 |archive-date=18 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318052805/http://www.usgbc.org/articles/championship-golf-course-secures-songdo-ibd%E2%80%99s-sustainable-status |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition, Songdo IBD utilizes a [[Automated vacuum collection|pneumatic waste disposal system]].<ref name="newcitiesfoundation.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.newcitiesfoundation.org/cityquest-songdo-south-korea-conceptualized-ultimate-smart-sustainable-city/ |title=South Korea Conceptualizes the Ultimate Smart City - NewCities |date=28 December 2014 |access-date=5 June 2017 |archive-date=18 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161218051659/http://www.newcitiesfoundation.org/cityquest-songdo-south-korea-conceptualized-ultimate-smart-sustainable-city/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This means no garbage cans on street corners, and no garbage trucks. Instead, garbage is thrown into pipes that will suck the garbage underground, disposing of waste, and recycling what can be recycled.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/09/songdo-south-korea-the-city-of-the-future/380849/ |title=Songdo, South Korea: City of the Future? |first=Ross Arbes and Charles |last=Bethea |website=[[The Atlantic]] |date=27 September 2014 |access-date=5 June 2017 |archive-date=7 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507193319/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/09/songdo-south-korea-the-city-of-the-future/380849/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are also 25&nbsp;km of bike paths and charging stations for electric vehicles throughout the city.<ref name="newcitiesfoundation.org"/>

There have been many criticisms of Songdo's sustainability credentials given the car-centricity of the city and the lack of walkability. Many of the LEED certified buildings also only meet the minimum criteria and many of the cities claims have been dismissed as [[greenwashing]].<ref name="koreatimes.co.kr">{{cite web |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/society/20191107/interview-smart-city-expert-unimpressed-with-songdo |title=Smart city expert unimpressed with Songdo |website=www.koreatimes.co.kr |access-date=12 June 2025 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="youtube.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuiRejZ7HY8 |title=When Building a Brand-New City Doesn’t Go as Planned |website=www.youtube.com |access-date=12 June 2025 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==UN Green Climate Fund==
In October 2012, Songdo IBD was selected to become the home to the [[Green Climate Fund|United Nations Green Climate Fund]] (GCF). One of the reasons for selection is the environmental-friendly practices that were incorporated into the city's foundation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2964114 |title=Built-from-scratch Songdo starts coming to life |website=[[Korea JoongAng Daily]] |access-date=5 June 2017 |archive-date=17 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017154811/http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=2964114 |url-status=live }}</ref> Being selected for the GCF marked the first time a large global environmental agency would be hosted in Asia.<ref name="korea.net">{{Cite web |url=http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Policies/view?articleId=103244 |title=Korea.net |access-date=2016-08-22 |archive-date=2016-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323052516/http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Policies/view?articleId=103244 |url-status=live }}</ref>

A parallel between The GCF and the [[World Bank]] can be drawn, as The GCF offers financial aid to developing countries in their quest to [[climate change mitigation|combat climate change]]. South Korea beat out 5 other competitors for this opportunity, as part of former South Korean President [[Lee Myung-bak|Lee Myung-Bak]]'s initiative for [[green growth]] in Korea.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/10/117_122781.html |title=Songdo to host UN climate fund |date=21 October 2012 |access-date=5 June 2017 |archive-date=1 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201142056/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/10/117_122781.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The other competing countries were Germany, Switzerland, Mexico, Namibia, and Poland. According to Chief Secretary Kim Sang-hyup, the win for selection came at only 10 days before the decision was due, and mainly because the United States decided to lend its support to Korea.<ref name="korea.net"/>

==Transportation==
Songdo IBD has wide roads and a high number of bicycle paths and walkways. The district is served by buses and by [[Incheon Metro]] Line 1, with six stations (another will be added in 2021), some with elegant interiors and interior sky-lit vistas. Although travel to [[Incheon International Airport]] is quick with the 12.3&nbsp;km [[Incheon Bridge]], transportation via subway to [[Seoul]] is less direct and requires multiple transfers but two Red class<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ifez.go.kr/global/biz/contents/CTS_0000000000000190/getContents.do |title=IFEZ Global Center > Daily Living > Transportation > Bus |access-date=2015-08-23 |archive-date=2015-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924033249/http://www.ifez.go.kr/global/biz/contents/CTS_0000000000000190/getContents.do |url-status=live }}</ref> commuter buses offer direct routes to the capital city.

==Environmental impact==
In 2003, [[Birds Korea]] called for a halt to the reclamation project due to concerns of potential losses of important [[tidal flats]]. Prior to reclamation, the Songdo tidal flats had supported several [[threatened species|threatened]] [[waterbird]] species, and provided a staging ground for migratory [[wader]]s as they traveled between the Northern and Southern hemispheres.<ref>[http://www.birdskorea.org/Habitats/Wetlands/Songdo/BK-HA-Songdo-Last-call-for-Song-Do.shtml Last call for Songdo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923125345/http://birdskorea.org/Habitats/Wetlands/Songdo/BK-HA-Songdo-Last-call-for-Song-Do.shtml |date=2010-09-23 }} Birds Korea</ref>

==Bio industry==
Major South Korean bio companies, including [[Samsung Biologics]] and [[Celltrion]], have their headquarters, and raw materials companies such as [[Merck & Co.]], [[Sartorius AG|Sartorius]], [[Cytiva]], and [[Thermo Fisher Scientific]] have large-scale [[research and development]] and manufacturing facilities. [[SK Bioscience]] has a large-scale R&D facility, and [[Lotte Biologics]] has a plant in Songdo.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 January 2024 |title=삼바·셀트리온에 SK·롯데까지... 바이오 대기업이 송도에 몰리는 이유 |url=https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/2D47142XKB |work=Seoul Daily |language=Korean}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=3 July 2024 |title=인천 송도에 롯데바이오로직스 착공...2027년 가동 |url=https://www.khan.co.kr/article/202407031053001 |work=[[Kyunghyang Shinmun]] |language=Korean}}</ref> Lotte Biologics began construction of the plant for biopharmaceutical production in March 2024, and is scheduled to begin commercial production in 2027.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 February 2025 |title=롯데바이오로직스 송도공장 준공 6개월 연기...상업가동은 예정대로 |url=https://www.hankyung.com/article/202502258100i |work=[[Korea Economic Daily]] |language=Korean}}</ref>

==Projects==
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[State University of New York|State University of New York (SUNY)]] – Korea (SBU, FIT)
* [[George Mason University]] Korea Campus
* [[Ghent University]] Global Campus
* [[University of Utah]] Asia Campus
* [[Yonsei University|Yonsei University, International Campus]]
* [[Global Information Complex]],<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Inha University |url=http://eng.inha.ac.kr/intro/information.asp |title=Inha Global Knowledge Complex @ Songdo International Business District |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016035851/http://eng.inha.ac.kr/intro/information.asp |archive-date=16 October 2014 |access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref> [[Inha University]]
* [[Chadwick International]]
* [[Songdo First World|First World]]
* [[Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea]]
* [[Northeast Asia Trade Tower]]
* [[Sheraton Incheon Hotel]]
* [[Songdo Canal Walk]]
* [[Songdo Convensia]]
* [[Songdo Central Park]]
* [[University of Incheon]]
{{div col end}}


== Gallery ==
{{wide image|Songdo Panorama.PNG|900px|Songdo International Business District, [[Incheon]].}}<gallery mode="packed">
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===Songdo International City seen from Gyeonggi Province===
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File:Siheung October 2014 06.JPG|
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==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==

{{commons category|Songdo}}
*[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01EEDD1139F937A1575AC0A9629C8B63 New Island Hopes to Be Hong Kong Of Korea], ''[[New York Times]]'' September 24, 2004.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141016035851/http://eng.inha.ac.kr/intro/information.asp Inha Global Knowledge Complex @ Songdo International Business District]

{{Future developments in Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do}}
{{Ambient intelligence}}

[[Category:Songdo International Business District| ]]
[[Category:Planned communities in South Korea]]
[[Category:Redeveloped ports and waterfronts in South Korea]]
[[Category:Artificial islands of South Korea]]
[[Category:Internal territorial disputes of South Korea]]
[[Category:Planned communities established in the 2010s]]
[[Category:Smart cities]]
[[Category:Yeonsu District]]