South Korea's "ubiquitous" Songdo city begins to take shape

It's been a good long while since we've heard anything about South Korea's planned "ubiquitous city," Songdo, but it looks like the mammoth effort is finally beginning to take shape, as evidenced by the BBC's recent trip to the $200 billion development. According to the BBC, the city is now scheduled for completion in 2015, as opposed to 2014, but the first few developments will apparently be open for business as soon as 2009. Somewhat disconcertingly for South Korea, however, is the complete lack of any blue chip companies that have signed up for a piece of the action as of yet, despite the promised incentives that come from the city being located in the Incheon Free Enterprise Zone (IFEZ). The folks behind the development seem confident that companies will eventually come flocking to the city though, with its central location between China and Japan, and its blanket of technology, including WiFi and RFID, promising to work in its favor.

[thedesolate1 @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:24PM]

and DVB TV and WIMAX and hopefully a whole slew of new wireless standards. I just hope no babies are born with cancer from all the EM waves.

[w00t @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:28PM]

Killer EM waves!!
Don't ever venture into any sunlight will you :)

[Big Al @ Jul 2nd 2008 6:22PM]

We use DMB, not DVB in Korea. Also, WiMAX is called WiBro.

Yeah, and we don't have too many EM waves, just OTA TV, FM/AM radio, CDMA 1x, EVDO, Rev A, WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, WiBro, DMB, then there's the personal networks like 802.11 & Bluetooth...

... so should I get an EM shielding helmet?

[OddManOut @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:02PM]

"...and we don't have too many EM waves..."


Really ? Wow. Then how does all that crap you just mentioned work without Electro-Magnetic waves ?

[j_g_puff @ Jul 3rd 2008 4:56AM]

@Oddmo:

It works by means of sarcasm.

[peacefulpony @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:41PM]

I wonder how many Starcraft crack dens will populate the city?

[Big Al @ Jul 2nd 2008 6:30PM]

There's usually at least 2+ internet cafes a 5 min walk away from wherever I am, so I'd imagine "a lot."

[waiownsyou @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:46PM]

What about that oversized North Korean hotel that they never finished?

[thedesolate1 @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:48PM]

North Korea is Epic Fail thanks to its leader... exactly what influx of tourists and industry is going to fill that hotel.... the only industry thriving out there is human trafficking to china and other parts of Eurasia and I dont think they traffickers ask for hotel accommodations. Its really sad what is becoming of NK. I hope things start looking up but the Kim has implanted some very deep rooted propaganda into his starving people that no invasion will ever clean....

[J-Rad @ Jul 2nd 2008 4:52PM]

Am i the only one who cringes when they hear "RFID" after watching the movie Zeit Geist?

[ZeitGeistmovie.com]

[thedesolate1 @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:50PM]

Yes... and TPM and CCTV and European Union. etc....

[jack @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:35PM]

Yeah word up!
Sounds very new world order.
to much order for me :)

Give me a good old fashion key anytime.

[Sal @ Jul 2nd 2008 5:52PM]

"Starcraft crack dens..." LOLz Whats their bandwidth going to look like?

[Big Al @ Jul 2nd 2008 6:27PM]

Well, my connection gets throttled on weekends...

I've also stopped by a couple internet cafes (PC bangs) on the weekend. They're usually packed.

[Gibson @ Jul 2nd 2008 6:10PM]

It's like Dubai for nerds.

I'm there.

[Blayne @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:21PM]

Nice to see they increased the price/investment by $103 billion. I think that's typical with new home construction.

[ErikR @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:00PM]

I'm pulling for this since the trip from Inchon to Seoul or Suwon is miserable and they've planned for mass transit between ICN and the Songdo from the start. In fact I noticed that the line was being built the other month when I went by on the way to the airport.

[Glitch @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:51PM]

As totally cool as that sounds... I hope I never have to live in such a city where the man/borg/big brother is always looking over my shoulder... kinda freaks me out actually...

|G|

[jack @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:37PM]

So is it going to be Tax free like Dubai??

[slipperywhenwet @ Jul 3rd 2008 7:40AM]

No, they tax the hell out of everything here except for booze and cigarettes.

And hookers...oh the glorious hookers.



Seriously though, seeing as how it's going to be setup in an EPZ, corporations will be free of tax, but citizens will have to foot the bill.

[BoryeongKorea @ Jul 11th 2008 12:51AM]

can't wait...