Songdo: The story and the history of a dream

A photo of Songdo by Yun Han Min, published in Songdo Stories issue 2. / Courtesy of Songdo Stories

By Soleiman Dias

It was right after I arrived in Korea more than two decades ago that I heard of a revolutionary new project started by the federal government in 2001. Although the idea was officially launched in 1979 and the detailed urban plan was drawn up in 1986 under the name of Songdo Informatization New Town, the actual reclamation work only began in 1994.

I was told that the original plan was to develop a new gigantic residential town and in 2001 Incheon City signed an MOU with U.S. real estate developer Gale International. One must be truly visionary to see a whole new city being built from scratch, particularly where there's no land, only water and mud.

President Kim Dae-jung announced the concept of the Northeast Asia Business Hub Development Plan in his annual speech in 2002, and soon after a buzz started around the country regarding a future new city to be built not too far from the future new airport. At that time the country's only international airport was Gimpo.

Then came the announcement of the construction of Korea's first free economic zone (FEZ) to improve the business and living environment of the city and to attract foreign investments. This new city, officially called Songdo International New City (in contrast with what is now graciously called Old Songdo by foreign residents), was part of that major FEZ project. The government knew there was not enough land for a new town, so land reclamation was the only option and they decided to add two more cities: Yeongjong and Cheongna. The very first major company that joined the project was the U.S.-based Celltrion that had signed the Songdo Bio Complex Creation Contract with Incheon City, and in 2003 Songdo was finally designated as part of Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ).

But there was no land yet to visit ― the city didn't exist then. Instead, there was an office in Seoul with the architects and engineers planning those incredible new cities. Everything impressed me right away, but what caught my attention was a conversation with the person in charge of the "school of the future." He talked to me about "the most ambitious privately financed project in history taking shape in the Yellow Sea" and how they wanted to open an institution that would "enable all learners to use multiple intelligences in solving complex challenges to serve the world." That was also my goal as an educator and I could see that wish being fulfilled in that new institution.

I remember looking at a giant picture of that new land divided into eight sections for reclamation (later expanded to a few more). I also heard about the FEZ being the first in Korea with its population targeted at about 512,000.

The first phase that had started in 2003 was completed in 2009. The IFEZ administration (or the "city hall" of Songdo) was located at the current Technopark Station, right across from the current Homeplus. I had coffee with others, went through an interview that lasted hours and was later hired to join the inaugural team planning the first international school within the IFEZ. One really needed to have the pioneer spirit to jump into an adventure that had yet to start writing its own history.

And so, after 12 years in the making and having spent approximately $35 billion, the city was ready to welcome its first citizens. For some, it was hard to imagine this area that was just underdeveloped mudflats 15 years ago was actually ready to become a livable city.

A few unique characteristics had been added to Songdo since its conception: the first smart city project in Korea, a green city with sustainability in mind and, above all, an international city. About 32 percent to 40 percent of Songdo was planned to be maintained as green space to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation, which was given to the city officials after following strict standards for neighborhood developments. It was the first LEED project in Korea and the largest outside North America. LEED is a prestigious environmental certification managed by the U.S. Green Council. I remember meeting some of the council employees who lived in Songdo to make sure the project was following the strict guidelines such as significant reduction in carbon footprint, efficient use of wastewater, use of local and sustainable materials, improvement in overall energy efficiency including heating and cooling systems and an impressive effective management of transportation and waste streams.

A pastel sketch shows where Songdo connects with "Old Songdo," the former western edge of Korea, by Rachel Stuckey, a design professor at SUNY Korea. Printed in Songdo Stories issue 2. / Courtesy of Songdo Stories

After being hired to join the international school launching team we were allowed to move into the city but, as there were no apartments to live in, we had to stay at the Best Western Hotel (now called Orakai), the only hotel back then. After a few months Canal Walk was finished and we moved over there and, in 2010, the Well County apartment complex was completed and we were among the first residents to move that way.

The beautiful campus of the new school was almost completed in 2009 and the initial name given was Songdo International School. The Ministry of Education wanted the city to find an already reputable institution that would manage the project. After a wide search they initiated negotiations with Chadwick School in California to operate the new school. The school was finally opened on Sept. 10, 2010, under the name Chadwick International.

As education is always in the center of all governmental policies and programs, the school was built in the heart of Songdo in its International Business District (IBD). We were told that they were planning to add office and commercial developments including a building to which the city would attract international organizations, residential housing, retail space, including a mall, hospital (still yet to be built) and clinics, public and private schools, a major convention center, hotels, parks (including Central Park), a golf course (later announced to be designed by Jack Nicklaus) etc.

Besides the IBD, I remember seeing other projects within Songdo in a giant maquette: a knowledge information industry district, along with a bio-industry cluster, Incheon New Port, Songdo Landmark City with the 151-story Incheon Tower, a future global university campus and more. To attract people to visit this new development, the local authorities brought a circus from Canada to Songdo and it performed for 90 consecutive days. Also the subway system was fully functioning.

And the dream continues, every day. There are many other images of this dream that need to be added, but the colorful depiction of that portrait is already real. It is a work in progress, a dream that never ceases to impress, more beautiful and reachable every day.

Dr. Soleiman Dias is Director of Alumni & International Relations at Chadwick International School, having moved to Songdo in 2009 when the school was completed. This article was published in issue 2 of Songdo Stories, an online magazine published by residents of Songdo. Visit songdostories.com to read more.