(INCHEON): Journalists from 30 countries visited the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) as part of the 2026 World Journalists Conference, gaining first-hand insight into Songdo International City’s smart city infrastructure and the zone’s rapid growth as a global investment hub.
The group’s program included visits to the National Museum of World Writing Systems, a water taxi ride offering views of Songdo’s waterfront and high‑rise skyline, and a stop on the upper floors of G‑Tower to observe the broader master plan of the Incheon Free Economic Zone. Delegates heard how Songdo was built largely on reclaimed land and planned from the outset as a mixed‑use city combining residential, business, education, and cultural facilities connected by smart infrastructure.
The delegation showed strong interest in the “Incheon Smart City” project, which enhances urban competitiveness by integrating information and communication technology (ICT) into transport, safety, housing, and environmental management. At the G Tower IFEZ PR Hall, located in the landmark G‑Tower skyscraper overlooking Songdo, journalists were briefed on how artificial intelligence and real‑time data are used to optimise traffic flows, track criminal vehicles, and respond more quickly to emergencies across the district.
Journalists also received an overview of how ICT and sensor networks feed into Songdo’s integrated control systems, supporting services like smart mobility, crime prevention, and disaster response that underpin the “Incheon Smart City” model. Several participants noted that the ability to monitor urban conditions in real time offers a concrete example of how cities can use data to improve the quality of life while supporting sustainable growth.
Songdo International City, one of three core districts within IFEZ, has emerged as a major base for bio‑medicine and high‑tech industries. IFEZ authorities plan to continue expanding infrastructure and training programs to strengthen Songdo’s position as a global K‑Bio hub and attract more foreign biotech and healthcare investment.
Beyond bio and pharma, IFEZ promotes Songdo as a centre for IT convergence, knowledge services, and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) industries, offering international schools, the Incheon Global Campus, and foreigner support services as part of a high‑quality living and business environment. Officials underscored that the combination of smart city infrastructure, specialised industrial clusters, and internationalised amenities is central to Songdo’s branding as a “global business city.”
The visit by world journalists comes amid strong foreign direct investment (FDI) performance in IFEZ. Data from the official IFEZ website published in Feb 2026 shows that by the third quarter of 2025, declared FDI in IFEZ had reached 553.5 million dollars, attaining 92.3 per cent of the annual target of 600 million dollars, while actual inflows reached 391.2 million dollars, surpassing the full‑year goal of 350 million dollars. Since its establishment in 2003, IFEZ has accumulated 16.72 billion dollars in declared FDI, underscoring its sustained appeal to overseas investors.
For the journalists in attendance, the combination of AI‑driven traffic management, world‑class bio‑medicine production capacity, and resilient FDI performance offered a concrete case study of how one Korean port city is positioning itself at the intersection of technology, industry, and global media attention.
Learn more about Songdo (http://www.songdonsic.com/en/ibd_en/business/), IFEZ (www.ifez.go.kr/world/main.do), and the World Journalists Conference 2026 (http://en.fna.asia/228dd)
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