Saemangeum Smart Waterfront City must prioritize the development of residential infrastructure following its initial sales success, experts say. With Hyundai Motor Group's 9 trillion won investment increasing the likelihood of attracting businesses and workers, the timing of industrial facilities and residential infrastructure will be crucial to the city's success.
According to the Saemangeum Development Corporation, 45 residential lots for single-family homes will be offered in September, with plans to supply apartment lots starting in 2027. Last year, 67 single-family lots and two neighborhood commercial lots sold out within 31 days of being announced.
However, selling land does not directly lead to population influx. Housing construction and occupancy can only begin once the infrastructure work is completed. Both single-family homes and apartments that can accommodate numerous workers, along with commercial, educational, medical, and transportation facilities, must be developed simultaneously for the city to function effectively.
The most concrete initiative among the residential infrastructure projects is the establishment of foreign educational institutions. The corporation plans to open a unified educational institution for children of expatriates and foreign workers by 2030, with a budget of 82.6 billion won for construction. Next month, they will sign a memorandum of understanding with an Australian school operating corporation.
Nonetheless, challenges remain regarding the school's opening. While the corporation can oversee the construction, it has yet to determine who will bear the operational deficits that may arise after the school opens. Discussions are ongoing with North Jeolla Province regarding long-term operational support. The selection of the school corporation, funding distribution, and administrative procedures must be completed as planned for the school to open in 2030.
Healthcare and transportation infrastructure are still in the planning stages. The corporation has signed an MOU with Wonkwang University for medical services, but specific plans regarding hospital size and construction timelines have not yet been established. Discussions are also underway with local governments, including Gimje City, about an AI-based public transportation system, but routes and operational methods have not been finalized.
Kwon In-taek, head of the Future Business Division at the Saemangeum Development Corporation, stated, "Establishing educational, medical, and transportation facilities in a location far from existing metropolitan areas is challenging. These facilities must be ready for the waterfront city to transform into a global city."
Sejong City experienced similar issues during its initial development, where the expansion of schools, hospitals, and public transportation lagged behind housing and government office occupancy, causing inconvenience for residents. The demand for students was not adequately reflected, necessitating the construction of additional schools, while shortages of hospitals and pharmacies and traffic congestion were also noted. Subsequently, bus routes and medical facilities were gradually expanded, improving living conditions.
Given that Saemangeum is being developed from scratch on a large reclaimed land site, timely provision of living infrastructure is even more critical. Delaying the supply of schools, hospitals, and public transportation due to initially low occupancy could lead to a vicious cycle of delayed population influx due to inconvenient living conditions.
To maintain industrial facility occupancy, the timing of housing occupancy, school openings, and the establishment of hospitals and transportation networks must be coordinated to avoid creating a "city with businesses but no residents."
Seo Jin-hyung, a professor at Kwangwoon University, emphasized, "To make Saemangeum a sustainable city, it is essential to attract industries specialized in the region to create quality jobs. Population must gather around industries, and disposable income for workers must increase to lead to the expansion of living infrastructure and regional economic revitalization, making the establishment of basic infrastructure crucial."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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