Demolition of Songhyeon Free Market in Old Downtown Incheon... Urban Development Begins at Dongincheon Station

On November 18, Incheon City announced that it will begin demolition work next month on Songhyeon Free Market, an aging and hazardous facility, in order to accelerate the urban development project around Dongincheon Station on the Gyeongin Line, a key hub for the revitalization of the old downtown area.

Songhyeon Free Market, which opened in Songhyeon-dong, Dong-gu, Incheon in 1965, has deteriorated significantly and, during a precision safety inspection conducted in August this year, received E grades for seven buildings and D grades for three buildings. An E grade indicates that there are serious defects in the main structural components, making immediate use of the facility prohibited, while a D grade classifies the building as a hazardous facility due to insufficient structural stability.

The city has decided to proceed with an emergency demolition of the market in accordance with relevant laws. Demolition will begin next month in the section where relocation has been completed (Phase 1-1), and the remaining section (Phase 1-2) will be demolished once compensation and relocation procedures are finished.

In addition, the city plans to promptly carry out subsequent procedures, including the approval of the implementation plan, to develop the Dongincheon Station area into a three-dimensional, integrated city that combines residential, work, commercial, and administrative functions.

Songhyeon Free Market received D and E grades in the precision safety inspection. Incheon City

The area around Dongincheon Station was one of Incheon’s most vibrant commercial districts until the early 1990s, but it rapidly declined as new commercial areas such as Songdo and Cheongna International City emerged.

The Dongincheon Station urban development zone covers 93,483 square meters in Songhyeon-dong, Dong-gu, and Inhyeon-dong, Jung-gu. With a total project cost of 512 billion won, the plan includes the construction of 1,279 housing units to accommodate a population of about 2,500 people.

An official from Incheon City stated, “The demolition of Songhyeon Free Market is not just about addressing aging and hazardous facilities, but marks the starting point for transforming the old downtown into a future-oriented urban space. We will do our utmost to restore new vitality to the Dongincheon Station area.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.