£28 billion project dubbed the world’s first Smart City has turned into a Chernobyl-like ghost town

A £28 billion ($40 billion) project hailed as the world’s first smart city has faded into a ‘Chernobyl-like ghost town’.

The ‘high-tech utopia’ of Songdo on South Korea’s northeast coast was built from scratch and designed around technology, with computers built into its streets and condos to control traffic and let neighbours hold video chats.

Residents were promised a city of the future, with remote-controlled front doors and pneumatic rubbish chutes that ‘sucked’ garbage from your home to later be recycled to generate electricity.

But eerie photos show that, just over 15 years since the Songdo project began, the city is still less than half-built, with one citizen remarking it’s like ‘living in a deserted prison’.

 

A £28 billion ($40 billion) project hailed as the world’s first smart city has faded into a ‘Chernobyl-like ghost town’. The ‘high-tech utopia’ of Songdo (pictured) on South Korea’s northeast coast was built from scratch and designed around technology

The brainchild of property developers and the South Korean government, the vision was to construct a new way of thinking for over 300,000 residents, spread out over 600 hectares of reclaimed land from the Yellow Sea.

It was to push boundaries in the way it dealt with technology, environment, business and education. Built within 25 miles (40km) of Seoul, it was billed as the antithesis of the suffocating, over-populated capital city.

But the £28 billion ($40 billion) project, launched in 2002, has struggled to bring in big companies and investors despite hosting South Korea’s tallest skyscraper.

Completion dates for the city, also known as the Songdo International Business District, have been used loosely. It was meant to be fully functional by 2015, then 2018, and now it’s 2022.

Critics have remarked that the city, which is currently less than a quarter full with just 70,000 residents, has a ‘Chernobyl-like emptiness’. 

Far from giving up on the project, Songdo’s developers are now going out of their way to entice foreigners, including Brits, with the construction of ‘American Town’.

Eerie photos show that, just over 15 years since the project began, the city is still less than half-built, with one citizen remarking it's like 'living in a deserted prison'

Eerie photos show that, just over 15 years since the project began, the city is still less than half-built, with one citizen remarking it’s like ‘living in a deserted prison’

Residents were promised a city of the future, with remote-controlled front doors and pneumatic rubbish chutes that 'sucked' garbage from your home to later be recycled to generate electricity. Computers were built into its streets (pictured) and condos to control traffic and let neighbours hold video chats

Residents were promised a city of the future, with remote-controlled front doors and pneumatic rubbish chutes that ‘sucked’ garbage from your home to later be recycled to generate electricity. Computers were built into its streets (pictured) and condos to control traffic and let neighbours hold video chats

WHAT IS SOUTH KOREA’S £28 BILLION SMART CITY SONGDO AND WHY IS IT SO EMPTY?

The 'high-tech utopia' of Songdo on South Korea's northeast coast was built from scratch and designed around technology (artist's impression)

The ‘high-tech utopia’ of Songdo on South Korea’s northeast coast was built from scratch and designed around technology (artist’s impression)

The ‘high-tech utopia’ of Songdo on South Korea’s northeast coast was built from scratch and designed around technology, with computers built into its streets and condos to control traffic and let neighbours hold video chats.

The city was supposed to kick-start a car-free world, with 40 per cent green space and dozens of kilometres of cycling routes. 

In an attempt to shape a clean-cut version of Manhattan, the city is dominated by a rectangular green space, aptly named Central Park, which is surrounded by cutting edge skyscrapers.

It was planned to contain 80,000 apartments, 50 million square feet (5 million square metres) of office space and 10 million square feet (900,000 square metres) of retail space.

But the £28 billion ($40 billion) project, launched in 2002, has struggled to bring in big companies and investors, halting completion of developers’ wide-eyed dream.

Completion dates for the city, also known as the Songdo International Business District, have been used loosely. It was meant to be fully functional by 2015, then 2018, and now it’s 2022.

Critics have remarked that the city, which is currently less than a quarter full with just 70,000 residents, has a ‘Chernobyl-like emptiness’. 

The £28 billion ($40 billion) project, launched in 2002, has struggled to bring in big companies and investors, halting completion of developers' wide-eyed dream. Pictured is one of the city's deserted subway stations

The £28 billion ($40 billion) project, launched in 2002, has struggled to bring in big companies and investors, halting completion of developers’ wide-eyed dream. Pictured is one of the city’s deserted subway stations

The city was supposed to kick-start a car-free world, with 40 per cent green space and dozens of kilometres of cycling routes (pictured). The city is dominated by a rectangular green space surrounded by cutting edge skyscrapers

The city was supposed to kick-start a car-free world, with 40 per cent green space and dozens of kilometres of cycling routes (pictured). The city is dominated by a rectangular green space surrounded by cutting edge skyscrapers

The district offers luxury apartments with futuristic technology, US and UK-style education and cleaner living.

Currently under-construction, American Town will have three large towers – up to 50-stories high – and two smaller ones, serving 900 apartments and 1,000 businesses over 4 million square feet (386,000 square meters).

Developers also hope to entice people from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, and New Zealand.

American Town was announced in January 2014 with one official stating that ‘already more than 1,200 units have been sold to foreign buyers’.

The brainchild of property developers and the South Korean government, the vision was to construct a new way of thinking for over 300,000 residents, spread out over 600 hectares of reclaimed land from the Yellow Sea

The brainchild of property developers and the South Korean government, the vision was to construct a new way of thinking for over 300,000 residents, spread out over 600 hectares of reclaimed land from the Yellow Sea

Songdo was to push boundaries in the way it dealt with technology, environment, business and education. Built within 25 miles (40km) of Seoul, it was billed as the antithesis of the suffocating, over-populated capital city

Songdo was to push boundaries in the way it dealt with technology, environment, business and education. Built within 25 miles (40km) of Seoul, it was billed as the antithesis of the suffocating, over-populated capital city

It was planned to contain 80,000 apartments, 50 million square feet (5 million square metres) of office space and 10 million square feet (900,000 square metres) of retail space. But a failure to lure in companies and investors means many of the city's building plots are still empty (pictured)

It was planned to contain 80,000 apartments, 50 million square feet (5 million square metres) of office space and 10 million square feet (900,000 square metres) of retail space. But a failure to lure in companies and investors means many of the city’s building plots are still empty (pictured)

Completion dates for the city, also known as the Songdo International Business District, have been used loosely. It was meant to be fully functional by 2015, then 2018, and now it's 2022

Completion dates for the city, also known as the Songdo International Business District, have been used loosely. It was meant to be fully functional by 2015, then 2018, and now it’s 2022

Koam, the Virginia-based real estate consulting firm in charge of the American Town project, toured US cities, especially those with large Korean populations, such as New York and Los Angeles, held meetings with locals and got over a thousand signed letters of intent to move.

New citizens could add over 20 per cent to the current population.

Although CEO Augustine Kim said the primary target was ‘people who left Korea for the American dream over 40 years ago’, Songdo locals tell a different story.

Some residents claim that the high cost of living is driving local people back into Seoul and the city is being built especially for foreigners.

Critics have remarked that the city, which is currently less than a quarter full with just 70,000 residents, has a 'Chernobyl-like emptiness'

Critics have remarked that the city, which is currently less than a quarter full with just 70,000 residents, has a ‘Chernobyl-like emptiness’

Some residents claim that Songdo's high cost of living is driving local people back into Seoul and the city is being built especially for foreigners

Some residents claim that Songdo’s high cost of living is driving local people back into Seoul and the city is being built especially for foreigners

Songdo citizen Shim Jong Rae described the deserted metropolis as a 'ghost town'. He said: 'There are many foreign schools, hospitals, and amenities however, they're all too expensive. Everything is expensive'

Songdo citizen Shim Jong Rae described the deserted metropolis as a ‘ghost town’. He said: ‘There are many foreign schools, hospitals, and amenities however, they’re all too expensive. Everything is expensive’

In an attempt to shape a clean-cut version of Manhattan, the city is dominated by a rectangular green space, aptly named Central Park, which is surrounded by cutting edge skyscrapers. Pictured is a mall near the park

In an attempt to shape a clean-cut version of Manhattan, the city is dominated by a rectangular green space, aptly named Central Park, which is surrounded by cutting edge skyscrapers. Pictured is a mall near the park

Songdo citizen Shim Jong Rae described the deserted metropolis as a ‘ghost town.’ 

‘There are many foreign schools, hospitals, and amenities however, they’re all too expensive. Everything is expensive,’ he said.

‘Although they might develop the area well in the future, people are starting to leave the city. It’s too focused on attracting foreigners that they forget that normal people live here too.

‘If they could just get their head around adjusting the cost of living here, Songdo could potentially be not only the best city in Korea, but the world. But development has stalled a lot.’

American Gale International - who own 61 per cent of the project - have been at the forefront and have never doubted its success. The plan was designed by the New York office of architect Kohn Pedersen Fox, while labour and funding has been provided by the metropolitan South Korean city of Incheon, which Songdo is attached to

American Gale International – who own 61 per cent of the project – have been at the forefront and have never doubted its success. The plan was designed by the New York office of architect Kohn Pedersen Fox, while labour and funding has been provided by the metropolitan South Korean city of Incheon, which Songdo is attached to

Gale International admit that concentrating on quality of life meant 'what has probably missed the mark is for companies to locate here'. Pictured are empty bicycle racks in the city

Gale International admit that concentrating on quality of life meant ‘what has probably missed the mark is for companies to locate here’. Pictured are empty bicycle racks in the city

On weekends, the cycle racks are empty (pictured), the area is desolate apart from the odd stray tourist visiting the top of the 65-floor Northeast Asia Trade Centre, now South Korea's tallest building (pictured)

On weekends, the cycle racks are empty (pictured), the area is desolate apart from the odd stray tourist visiting the top of the 65-floor Northeast Asia Trade Centre, now South Korea’s tallest building (pictured)

American Gale International – who own 61 per cent of the project – have been at the forefront and have never doubted its success.

The plan was designed by the New York office of architect Kohn Pedersen Fox, while labour and funding has been provided by the metropolitan South Korean city of Incheon, which Songdo is attached to.

Around the perimeter fence of the American Town there’s the slogan ‘Dream of Incheon, vision of Korea.’

But people aren’t coming and neither are businesses – less than 50 big brands have bothered – and public transport is a pain, it’s a near two-hour connection to downtown Seoul.

The streets, footpaths and cycle lanes are strangely empty for such a large city, there's no presence of culture - no museums, theatres or cinemas

The streets, footpaths and cycle lanes are strangely empty for such a large city, there’s no presence of culture – no museums, theatres or cinemas

Blogger Ian James, writing for Korea Expose , said it reminded him more of Chernobyl than the best example of future living. He said: 'Songdo is a new kind of city: Completely artificial, painstakingly designed, without a hint of decay or poverty, and nearly empty. It's a human desert'

Blogger Ian James, writing for Korea Expose , said it reminded him more of Chernobyl than the best example of future living. He said: ‘Songdo is a new kind of city: Completely artificial, painstakingly designed, without a hint of decay or poverty, and nearly empty. It’s a human desert’

Far from giving up on the project, Songdo's developers are now going out of their way to entice foreigners, including Brits, with the construction of 'American Town' (pictured). The district offers luxury apartments with futuristic technology, US and UK-style education and cleaner living

Far from giving up on the project, Songdo’s developers are now going out of their way to entice foreigners, including Brits, with the construction of ‘American Town’ (pictured). The district offers luxury apartments with futuristic technology, US and UK-style education and cleaner living

Gale International admit that concentrating on quality of life meant ‘what has probably missed the mark is for companies to locate here’.

One resident described it as ‘living in a deserted prison’.

The streets, footpaths and cycle lanes are strangely empty for such a large city, there’s no presence of culture – no museums, theatres or cinemas.

On weekends, the cycle racks are empty, the area is desolate apart from the odd stray tourist visiting the top of the 65-floor Northeast Asia Trade Center, now South Korea’s tallest building.

Blogger Ian James, writing for Korea Expose, said it reminded him more of Chernobyl than the best example of future living.

 Currently under-construction, American Town will have three large towers - up to 50-stories high - and two smaller ones (pictured), serving 900 apartments and 1,000 businesses over 4 million square feet (386,000 square meters)

 Currently under-construction, American Town will have three large towers – up to 50-stories high – and two smaller ones (pictured), serving 900 apartments and 1,000 businesses over 4 million square feet (386,000 square meters)

Developers also hope to entice people from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, and New Zealand. American Town was announced in January 2014 with one official stating that 'already more than 1,200 units have been sold to foreign buyers'

Developers are adamant that everything is going along fine, with Scott Summers, vice president of Gale International, telling NPR: 'It's a great place to live. And it's becoming a great place to work'

Developers also hope to entice people from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, and New Zealand. American Town was announced in January 2014 with one official stating that ‘already more than 1,200 units have been sold to foreign buyers’. Pictured left is the complex’s larger tower, while the right image shows one of its smaller structures

Koam, the Virginia-based real estate consulting firm in charge of the American Town project (pictured), toured US cities, especially those with large Korean populations, such as New York and Los Angeles, held meetings with locals and got over a thousand signed letters of intent to move. New citizens could add over 20 per cent to the current population

Koam, the Virginia-based real estate consulting firm in charge of the American Town project (pictured), toured US cities, especially those with large Korean populations, such as New York and Los Angeles, held meetings with locals and got over a thousand signed letters of intent to move. New citizens could add over 20 per cent to the current population

‘The fact that 1,500 acres of Yellow Sea marshland, home to several endangered bird species, was devastated for this “green” city is another matter,’ he wrote.

‘Songdo is a new kind of city: Completely artificial, painstakingly designed, without a hint of decay or poverty, and nearly empty. It’s a human desert.

‘There is an oppressive, Chernobyl-like emptiness here. The shallowness is awesome, in both the modern and traditional sense of the word; you can almost feel that these huge buildings are only years away from being completely abandoned.’

But developers are adamant that everything is going along fine, with Scott Summers, vice president of Gale International, telling NPR in 2015: ‘It’s a great place to live. And it’s becoming a great place to work.’

Songdo, also known as the Songdo International Business District, is part of the South Korean city of Incheon. It sits around 25 miles (40km) from captial city Seoul

Songdo, also known as the Songdo International Business District, is part of the South Korean city of Incheon. It sits around 25 miles (40km) from captial city Seoul



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