Incheon City Finalizes Integrated Master Plan for ‘Eco Metacity Urban Development Project’
Expansion of Geomdan New Town and Blueprint for a Mega Future City Completed with the Establishment of Geomdan District in July 2026
‘Eco Metacity + Royal Park City + Geomdan New Town’ to Supply 100,000 Households — 15 Times the Size of LuWon City
A Major Shift in Incheon’s Future Urban Axis: From Songdo to Geomdan
On May 19, Incheon City announced that it had finalized the integrated master plan for the “Eco Metacity Urban Development Project,” a core initiative for the city’s future urban growth, and has begun full-scale implementation.The project is guided by the vision of creating a “healthy and sustainable city” and a “future city everyone dreams of,” with the central goal of building an eco-friendly, integrated cultural citywhere people, nature, and culture coexist in harmony.
In particular, ahead of the planned establishment of Geomdan District in July 2026, the ongoing development of Geomdan New Town and the privately led Royal Park City project are being coordinated, marking a turning point expected to shift Incheon’s future urban axis from Songdo to Geomdan.
[Integrated Master Plan: From Phase 1 Residential Zone (East) Onward]
[Integrated Master Plan: From Phase 1 Residential Zone (East) Onward]
According to the integrated master plan, Eco Metacity is designed with Jungbong-daero in Seo-gu, Incheon as its central axis, dividing the city into east and west residential zones. A green corridor running east-west and north-south will organically connect the entire city, creating a pleasant and cohesive spatial structure. This green corridor will serve not only as an ecological network but also as a pedestrian-centered living zone. Additionally, by linking with existing development projects such as Wanggil District 1 (500,000㎡, 150,000 pyeong), Geomdan District 3 (520,000㎡, 150,000 pyeong), and Geomdan District 5 (420,000㎡, 120,000 pyeong), the plan aims to significantly improve residential conditions.
Shift of Incheon’s Future Urban Axis through the Creation of a Mega Future City with 100,000 Households
[Bird’s-Eye View of Eco Metacity, Royal Park City, and Geomdan New Town: A Mega Future City with 100,000 Households]
Eco Metacity will be developed in two phases. Phase 1 will begin on the east side of Jungbong-daero, around the Sawol Village area, covering approximately 1 million square meters (about 300,000 pyeong). Incheon City plans to finalize the Phase 1 development plan by 2026 and complete the construction of residential and commercial facilities by 2032. Phase 2 will proceed sequentially on the west side of Jungbong-daero after Phase 1 is completed. When both phases are finished, the total area will be approximately 1.95 million square meters (about 590,000 pyeong), which is twice the size of LuWon City (about 290,000 pyeong).
[Bird’s-Eye View of Eco Metacity, Royal Park City, and Geomdan New Town: A Mega Future City with 100,000 Households]
In particular, the commercial facilities within the central living zone—planned to be connected to the city rail network—will be large enough to accommodate two department stores. The Handle Zone 3 in Sawol Village is currently undergoing the permitting process. With its inclusion in this master plan, the pace of development is expected to accelerate significantly.
Through this development, Geomdan District will form a large-scale urban area spanning approximately 14.58 million square meters (about 4.39 million pyeong), connecting Eco Metacity (1.96 million㎡, 590,000 pyeong), Royal Park City being developed by DK Asia (1.44 million㎡, 420,000 pyeong), and Geomdan New Town—the first and only new town in Incheon (11.1 million㎡, 3.36 million pyeong). This area is about 15 times the size of LuWon City (approximately 290,000 pyeong) and is expected to supply a total of 100,000 households, marking a fundamental turning point that will reshape Incheon’s urban structure.
Incheon City is simultaneously expanding transportation infrastructure alongside the development of Eco Metacity. First, in September 2025, a road connecting Wondang-daero and Dream-ro is scheduled to open. This road will link the eastern side of Eco Metacity with the central axis of the existing Geomdan New Town, significantly improving inter-city accessibility. Following that, in December of the same year, an expanded connecting road between the Geomdan Industrial Complex and the Geomdan Bypass Road will open, establishing a key transportation corridor to accommodate industrial logistics and commuter demand.
Construction of the Jungbong Tunnel is scheduled to begin in 2027, with completion targeted for 2032. This tunnel is expected to alleviate traffic on Bongsu-daero while significantly enhancing connectivity between Geomdan District and northern Gyeonggi areas such as Ganghwa and Gimpo.
Expansion of Large-Scale Metropolitan Transportation Network and Major Improvements in Transportation Infrastructure, Including Jungbong Tunnel and Circular Line 3
Additionally, key lifestyle infrastructures such as Costco Cheongna (opened August 2024), Hana Financial Group headquarters relocation (scheduled for the first half of 2026), Starfield Cheongna (planned for 2027), and Seoul Asan Cheongna Hospital (expected to open in 2029) will be located within an 8-minute living radius, further enhancing the residential quality and convenience of Eco Metacity.
Eco Metacity is planned to be connected with Incheon’s Circular Line 3 in the future, serving as a vital north-south axis linking Songdo and Geomdan. Additionally, through connections with the GTX-D line, Seoul Subway Line 7, and Incheon Subway Lines 1 and 2, it will become the central hub of a metropolitan living area directly linked to major nodes in the Seoul metropolitan region.This multidimensional transportation infrastructure, which simultaneously enhances internal mobility and external connectivity, is expected to play a key role in transforming Eco Metacity into a future smart city where living, work, and culture are seamlessly integrated—far beyond just a residential area.
In July 2026, the Geomdan area will be separated from Incheon’s Seo District to establish the new Geomdan District. Additionally, Hanwha Hotels & Resorts is planning to complete the largest aquarium and theme park in the Seoul metropolitan area by 2027, which is expected to create significant synergy with the Eco Metacity development.
Hwang Hyo-jin, Deputy Mayor for Global City Affairs of Incheon City, stated, “The Eco Metacity urban development project will be successfully implemented through close cooperation between Incheon City, Seo District, and related departments.” He added, “By coordinating with major nearby development projects such as Wanggil District 1, Geomdan Districts 3 and 5, and Handle District, the overall residential environment in Geomdan will also be significantly improved.”