Incheon Inner Port Piers 1 and 8 Redevelopment Project Officially Announced, Construction Expected This Year

Development of Residential-Commercial Complexes, Cultural Facilities, and Parks
Project Scheduled for Completion in 2029

The redevelopment project for Incheon Inner Port, where port functions have declined due to reduced cargo volume, is expected to break ground as early as this year.

The Incheon Metropolitan Government announced on May 13 that, following the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' official confirmation and announcement of the changes to the "Incheon Port Inner Port Piers 1 and 8 Redevelopment Project Plan," it will concentrate its administrative efforts on obtaining approval for the implementation plan, with the goal of commencing construction in the second half of this year.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries made some changes to the original plan, which was finalized in October last year, after conducting consultations on transportation, disaster prevention, and environmental impact assessments. The project period has been extended by one year, from the original deadline of 2028 to 2029, and the project area has increased by 7,644 square meters, from 429,050 square meters to 436,694 square meters. A buffer green zone has been newly added to the land use plan.

The Incheon Port Inner Port Piers 1 and 8 Redevelopment Project is a joint initiative between the Incheon Metropolitan Government, Incheon Port Authority (IPA), and Incheon Housing & City Corporation (iH), with a total project cost of 637.1 billion won, including 28.3 billion won in national funds, 91.3 billion won in municipal funds, and 517.5 billion won in private investment.

The area will be developed into a multi-purpose space that combines residential-commercial complexes, cultural facilities, tourism facilities, parks, and green spaces. In particular, the cultural complex is planned to highlight the history and identity of Incheon Port’s opening, creating a maritime cultural landmark where modern and contemporary eras coexist. The city plans to complete the administrative procedures for implementation plan approval as soon as possible and to begin full-scale redevelopment in the second half of this year, starting with the demolition of fences and structures at Piers 1 and 8.

The Incheon Port Inner Port Piers 1 and 8 Redevelopment Project, which began in 2007 with a citizen petition, has moved into full-scale implementation after about 18 years of delays. It is the nation’s first port redevelopment project in which a local government has participated directly as the project implementer.

Opened in 1974, Incheon Inner Port has seen a decline in cargo volume as development of other ports in Incheon, such as the New Port and North Port, has accelerated. In addition, residents living near the Inner Port have been reporting noise and dust damage caused by port logistics facilities for over 30 years, leading to ongoing calls for the adjustment of port functions and the need for a redevelopment project that integrates the port and the surrounding old downtown area.

Incheon Inner Port consists of a total of eight piers. Following Piers 1 and 8, redevelopment is also planned for Piers 2 and 6 (0.73 square kilometers) and Piers 3, 4, 5, and 7 (1.85 square kilometers), depending on further changes in cargo volume trends.

An official from the Incheon Metropolitan Government stated, "The redevelopment of Incheon Inner Port Piers 1 and 8 is a key project preparing for Incheon's next 100 years. Through a successful groundbreaking in the second half of this year, we aim to quickly establish a maritime cultural urban space and revitalize the old downtown area."