Demolition of Songhyeon Free Market Begins in Incheon... First Step in Dongincheon Station Area Development

The urban development project around Dongincheon Station on the Gyeongin Line, a key hub for the revitalization of Incheon's old downtown, is now in full swing.

On December 8, Incheon City held a groundbreaking ceremony for the demolition of Songhyeon Free Market at the north square of Dongincheon Station in Songhyeon-dong, Dong-gu. The city plans to begin demolition with the 1-1 phase section (1,075 square meters), where all residents have already relocated, with a total budget of 4.5 billion won. The remaining 1-2 phase section (8,470 square meters) will be demolished after the compensation and relocation procedures are completed.

Songhyeon Free Market, which opened in 1965, was found to be severely deteriorated, receiving an E grade for seven buildings and a D grade for three buildings in a detailed safety inspection conducted in August this year. An E grade means there are serious defects in the main structural components, making immediate use prohibited, while a D grade classifies the buildings as dangerous facilities due to insufficient structural stability.

On the 8th, the groundbreaking ceremony for the demolition of Songhyeon Free Market was held at the north square of Dongincheon Station in Songhyeon-dong, Dong-gu, Incheon. Photo by Incheon City

The groundbreaking ceremony for the demolition of Songhyeon Free Market on this day marked the official launch of the "Jemulpo Renaissance," the first major pledge of the 8th popularly elected administration aimed at revitalizing Incheon's old downtown. Once the market demolition is complete, the development of the Dongincheon Station area, one of Incheon's representative old downtown districts, is expected to gain momentum.

The city plans to develop a 93,900-square-meter area around Dongincheon Station-including Songhyeon-dong in Dong-gu and Inhyeon-dong in Jung-gu-into a three-dimensional mixed-use city that combines residential, work, commercial, and administrative functions by 2029, through public development led by the Incheon Urban Development Corporation. With a total project cost of 435.1 billion won, 1,279 housing units will be built to accommodate a population of over 2,500 people.

The project will also include the construction of a thoroughfare road and a multi-level pedestrian plaza to connect the north and south sides separated by the Gyeongin Line. In addition, the new integrated Jemulpo District Office, which will be established in July next year following the merger of Jung-gu and Dong-gu, will be located within the Dongincheon Station urban development area.

The area around Dongincheon Station was one of Incheon's busiest commercial districts until the early 1990s, but rapidly declined as it was overtaken by new towns such as Songdo and Cheongna International City. Although various development attempts have been made since 2007, the project remained stagnant for a long time until the 8th popularly elected administration of Incheon City decided to pursue a comprehensive redevelopment of the Dongincheon Station area and accelerated the project.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeongbok stated, "The demolition of Songhyeon Free Market marks the starting point for transforming the aging Dongincheon Station area into a future-oriented mixed-use city," and added, "We will do our best to ensure that the Dongincheon Station area development project becomes a successful model for the recreation of the old downtown, creating a synergy that revitalizes the surrounding areas as well."

Demolition work is underway at Songhyeon Free Market. Incheon City

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