Officials are undertaking a major overhaul of Incheon’s southern old downtown, leveraging expanded regional transit, ecological river restoration and urban-renewal projects.
Key initiatives — designating Yeonsu as a transit hub, restoring waterways in Namdong, and pursuing balanced development in Michuhol — are converging and raising expectations for an economic boost in the region.
Yeonsu’s old downtown is poised to become the epicenter of a rail-driven transportation transformation. That process begins with the Incheon-origin KTX service scheduled to open this December and continues with the GTX-B metropolitan express line and an extension of Incheon Subway Line 1.
With Songdo Station as the starting point, the area will link major cities such as Busan and Gwangju in roughly two hours. Once Cheonghak Station is added and the Line 1 extension is completed, the district is expected to emerge as a key transit hub for the southern Seoul metropolitan area.
Still, accelerating projects currently slated for the 2030s will require streamlining administrative procedures — a hurdle officials must address to bring forward planned openings.
Namdong District is staking its hopes on old-town regeneration through the Mansucheon ecological river-restoration project, Mayor Park Jong-hyo’s top campaign pledge.
The project, which cleared the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s central investment review last year, calls for removing concrete coverings from the river and creating accessible waterside public spaces for residents.
Critical variables for the project’s success include agreeing on a roughly 48 billion KRW (approximately 36 million USD) cost-sharing plan and securing replacement parking to offset the closure of covered parking facilities.
Michuhol District is reshaping its urban landscape through redevelopment at more than 40 sites.
Unlike rapidly developing new districts, the older downtown neighborhoods have been left behind; narrowing the housing and infrastructure gap through balanced development is an urgent priority.
After the professional baseball team relocates in 2028 and Munhak Stadium becomes vacant, officials are considering converting the site into a K-Culture Arena — a cultural and arts hub that could provide new momentum for old-town revitalization.
▶Related: [InjinNet special — Incheon regional issues] ④ Southern sector: Yeonsu, Namdong and Michuhol face 'major transformation'…must coordinate with old downtowns
By Chang-wook Lee, Hee-geun Yoo and Na-ra Lee chuk@incheonilbo.com
