About

Songdo International Business District (Songdo IBD) is a $35 billion smart and sustainable city that is setting new benchmarks for urban development.

Background

Today’s thriving metropolis is the result of a unique and long-term public-private partnership. Since 2001, that partnership has undertaken the development of Songdo IBD—from the initial master planning and implementation of advanced infrastructure, to the design and development in subsequent phases, and finally to the vitalization of the city.

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Location

Songdo IBD lies at the heart of a larger urban area: Songdo City, located within the greater Incheon Metropolitan City. Here’s why this location is important:

  • Songdo IBD is adjacent to Incheon International Airport, recognized for the past 10 years as the world’s top-ranked large airport for traveler experience.
  • Korea’s longest bridge, Incheon Bridge, spans 21 km to connect the airport directly to Songdo – travel time is about 18 minutes.
  • With 24 million residents, the Seoul-Incheon-Gyeonggi region makes up about half of Korea’s population.

1/3 of the world’s population is accessible within a 3 ½ hour flight from Incheon International Airport.



Travel times to major Asian cities:

  • Shanghai 1 ½ hr
  • Tokyo 2 hr
  • Hong Kong 3 ½ hr

Domestic travel times:

  • Seoul 35 miles (56 km)
  • Gangnam (downtown) district of Seoul 45 minute drive

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Masterplan

Developed on 1500 acres (6 sq km) along Incheon’s waterfront, Songdo IBD is designed around the people who live and work there. It is a city in perfect balance, combining the ideal mix of residential, cultural, business, retail, and recreational environments.

Hospitality 5 million SF (464,000 ㎡)
Public Space 10 million SF (929,000 ㎡)

100 millionsquare foot new city on 1,500 acres.

Commercial40 million SF(3.7 million sq m)

Residential35 million SF(3.25 million sq m)

Retail10 million SF(929,000 sq m)

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History

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Partners

The best ideas from across the globe.

The foundation of a sustainable, high-tech city: Collaboration with the right partners.

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Smart

The model for next-generation cities.

By partnering with multinational technology companies, local service providers, and government organizations, Songdo serves as a proving ground for next-generation “smart” city solutions.

  • Incheon U-City is responsible for the region’s unrivaled “smart” infrastructure, which enables many of the city’s solutions around transportation, safety and security, disaster management, facilities management, and citizen information services.
  • u.Life Solutions provides many of the “smart” solutions and services directly to Songdo’s citizens, in the areas of education, health and beauty, fitness, transportation, parking, and home automation.

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Green

20 million sq ft (1.9 million sq m.) of LEED™-certified space

In addition to the widespread implementation of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED™ standard, 40% of the city has been set aside as green public space. Songdo offers residents, visitors, and businesses an idyllic and sustainable place in which to live, work, and play.

The city is a global leader in achieving LEED™ standards for the built environment:

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Growth

An established city, growing to meet the needs of its citizens and visitors.

A look at Songdo IBD to date:

  • Over 20,000 residential units are occupied or under construction.
  • 36,000 residents currently live in Songdo IBD (90,000 in Songdo City).
  • Over 1,000 retail and hospitality businesses are open and operating.
  • Over 1,600 domestic and global companies are currently located in Songdo City, with 60,000 employees expected by 2016.

Songdo is the host city of:

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