Songdo International City is 20 minutes away from Incheon International Airport and only 28 kilometers away from the capital Seoul. Transportation is well developed and convenient as its trains, subways and highways are well connected with other regions.

It was designed to be a low-carbon green city from the start and to be a role model for green growth, and thus boasts many environmentally friendly features.

Thirty-two percent of Songdo is filled with greenery, which is the highest ratio in the country. Parks such as Songdo Central Park, Michuhol Park and Sunrise Park have been established as leisure locations, and more parks are planned by 2013. 

Incheon is near the sea, so Songdo contains waterfront resources that connect the lakes and rivers together which cools down the city, reduces its carbon footprint and electricity usage, and prevents the city from becoming a heat island.

The city also recycles water by treating and re-using water for toilets, parks, industrial water and cleaning. This has saved 44 billion won ($40 million) in water fees, and reduced 26,500 tons of annual carbon emissions. The current rate of water re-usage is 10 percent, and the city plans to increase sewage water recycling by 40 percent by 2020.

Songdo is also known as a city with no garbage trucks ― the city takes care of its waste via an automatic waste-gathering system that is installed in apartments and studio flats. The heat acquired from waste management is recycled for use in buildings. Songdo’s recycling rate records 76.3 percent.

Many buildings in the city also use clean energy such as solar power, wind power and geothermal heat to reduce utility costs and carbon emissions. The city also plans to increase the use of LED lights starting from 2013.

Songdo boasts great living conditions with education institutions such as Songdo Global University, Chadwick International School and Dalton School. Seventy-two local hospitals provide professional service for foreign patients, and there are various leisure areas such as shopping malls, art centers and restaurants.

Songdo also provides a good environment for business as it is close to the airport and the capital. Global companies such as Samsung and Lotte have invested in the area, and Songdo also has several world-class hotels for visitors such as the Sheraton and Songdo Park Hotel.

Songdo has relatively cheap prices and convenient living conditions for foreigners, and safety is high compared to other cities as owning firearms is illegal in South Korea, so it is not dangerous to walk around or grab a taxi at night.

By Sang Youn-joo (sangyj@heraldcorp.com)